Synthesis and Structure of 1,2-Diphenyl-1,2-disila-closo-dodecaborane(12), Reaction with [Zr(NMe2)4] and [Ta(NMe2)5]

Diphenyl-o-silaborane ( 1 ) can be obtained by sublimation as colourless crystalline material in a yield of 23%. The disilaborane 1 was characterized by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and X-ray structure analysis. The neutral closo cluster 1 reacts with [Zr(NMe₂)₄] or [Ta(NMe₂)₅] to give the dimethylamide adduct [(Me₂N)(PhSi)₂B₁₀H₁₀]^– of the disilaborane.