How Changing the Bridgehead Can Affect the Properties of Tripodal Ligands

Although a multitude of studies have explored the coordination chemistry of classical tripodal ligands containing a range of main‐group bridgehead atoms or groups, it is not clear how periodic trends affect ligand character and reactivity within a single ligand family. A case in point is the extensive family of neutral tris‐2‐pyridyl ligands E(2‐py)₃ (E=C?R, N, P), which are closely related to archetypal tris‐pyrazolyl borates. With the 6‐methyl substituted ligands E(6‐Me‐2‐py)₃ (E=As, Sb, Bi) in hand, the effects of bridgehead modification alone on descending a single group in the periodic table were assessed. The primary influence on coordination behaviour is the increasing Lewis acidity (electropositivity) of the bridgehead atom as Group 15 is descended, which not only modulates the electron density on the pyridyl donor groups but also introduces the potential for anion selective coordination behaviour.     

Steric effects on reaction rates. XI. Solvolysis of tertiary carbon substrates rationalized by molecular mechanics calculations

The steric energy difference (ΔE_st) between tertiary carbenium ions (R⁺) and the corresponding alcohols has been calculated by MM2 for a series of tertiary nonbridgehead substrates and correlated with their rate of solvolytic reactivity. Satisfactory correlation is obtained, except for p-nitrobenzoates of highly congested substrates. The slope and intercept of the correlations remain almost unchanged if bridge-head substrates are included in the plot. However, the quality of the fit is better for bridgehead substrates alone.     

Steric Effects on Reaction Rates. Part VIII. The Significance of Front Strain Release in Solvolysis of Bridgehead Derivatives

The steric requirements of leaving groups for 14 bridgehead derivatives have been examined using MM2 calculations. The strain varies almost monotonously throughout the series upon variation of the leaving group from H to C1, OH, CH₃, CH₃CH₂O, (CH₃)₃CO, (CH₃)₃C and no significant trends for differential F-strain effects are detected expect for the perhydrophenalene derivative 13 . The experimental rates of solvolysis of bridgehead derivatives correlate well with the calculated steric energy differences between substrate R-X and the corresponding carbenium ion R⊕. However, the strain calculations using the more recent force-fields ( MM2 ) disagree, in part, with those reported in the literature: chloride and p-toluenesulfonate leaving groups correlate with identical slopes, and the perhydrotriquinacene derivative 10 shows no anomalous behavior. The calculations suggest that F-strain and C,C-hyperconjugation should not play any dominant role in bridgehead solvolysis.     

Couloamperometry. A fast kinetic technique for halogenations. I. Bromination rate constants of highly reactive enol ethers

A new couloamperometric apparatus has been designed to extend the range of this kinetic technique to the measurement of very high rate constants, 10⁸M^?1s^?1, by using TFCR-EXSEL conditions (TFCR—very low reactant concentration; EXSEL—salt excess), which give half-lives of a few seconds for very fast second-order reactions. Very low faradaic currents, in the nanoampere range for halogens, corresponding to very low reactant concentrations of 10^?8–10^?9M, are measured selectively by compensating the eddy currents, principally the residual and the induced currents. When the electroactive species is bromine, the concentration is demonstrated to be linearly related to the limiting reduction current in the very low concentration range. The upper limit of this technique for bromination is at present 3 × 10⁸M^?1s^?1. The method is applied to the kinetic study of highly reactive enol ethers EtO-C(R) = CH-R′, where R and R′ are H or Me. A value of 2.2 × 10⁸M^?1s^?1 is obtained for k, the rate constant for free bromine addition to EtO-CH = CH₂, by extrapolating the kinetic bromide ion effects to [Br^?] = 0. An α-methyl effect (k_α-Me/k_H)_EtO of 15 is found; this is a small decrease in the methyl effect compared to the marked increase in the double bond reactivity. For the enol acetate MeCOO-CH = CH₂, whose rate constant is 6 × 10²M^?1s^?1, (k_α-Me/k_H)_OCOMe is 21. The dependence of substituent effects on reactivity is discussed in terms of the Hammond effect on the transition state position and of charge delocalization by group G of olefins G-CH = CH₂.     

Mehrkernige Kobaltkomplexe. II. Herstellung und Struktur von [(tren) (NH3)Co(O2)Co(NH3) (tren)](SCN)4 · 2H2O

Polynuclear Cobalt Complexes. II. Preparation and Structure of [(tren) (NH₃)Co(O₂)Co(NH₃) (tren)](SCN)₄ · 2H₂O The title compound is obtained on oxygenation of [Co(tren)(H₂O)₂]²⁺ in 6M aqueous ammonia or by ligand exchange starting from [(NH₃)₅Co(O₂)Co(NH₃)₅]-(NO₃)₄. An X-ray structure determination was made. The substance forms monoclinic crystals, space group P2₁/c, lattice constants a=10,135, b=8,473, c=19,484 Å, β=108,58°, with two formula units in the cell. The final R is 0,066. The binuclear cation has a center of symmetry, so the Co? O? O? Co unit is planar; the Co? O? O angle is 111,5°. The tertiary nitrogen atoms of both chelate groups are cis to the O₂ bridge, as found in doubly bridged [(tren)Co(O₂,OH)Co(tren)](ClO₄)₃ · 3H₂O. On acidification in solution, the singly bridged cation [(tren) (NH₃)CoO₂Co(NH₃)(tren)]⁴⁺ (a) loses the bound O₂ completely. But unlike the doubly bridged cation b , the rate of dissociation of a is independent of pH (Fig. 5). At higher pH (8–10) bridging a→b (Fig. 2) occurs. Both reactions must have the same rate determining step, the first order rate constants being of the order of 2 · 10^?3 s^?1 (25°, 0,35M KCl).     

Transesterification Kinetics Investigation of R‐Substituted Phenyl Benzoates with 4‐Methoxyphenol in the Presence of K2CO3 in DMF

Transesterification of R‐substituted phenyl benzoates 1–5 with 4‐methoxyphenol 6 was kinetically investigated in the presence of K₂CO₃ in dimethylformamide (DMF) at various temperatures. The Hammett plots for the reactions of the 1–5 demonstrate good linear correlations with σ⁰ constants. Low magnitude of ρ_LG values indicate that the leaving group departure occurs after the rate‐determining step. The Brønsted coefficient values for the reactions (?0.2, ?0.16, ?0.13 at 15, 24, 36°C, respectively) demonstrate the weak effect of leaving group substituent on the reactivity of R‐substituted phenyl benzoates 1–5 for the reactions with 4‐methoxyphenol 6 in the presence of K₂CO₃ in DMF. The leaving group substituent effect on free energy (ΔG^≠), enthalpy (ΔH^≠), and entropy (ΔS^≠) of activation was examined. It was shown that the activation parameters obtained depend weakly on the leaving group substituent effect. The reaction is entropy controlled in case the leaving group substituent becomes electron withdrawing.     

1H NMR studies of 3,8-dioxatricyclo-[3.2.1.02,4]octane derivatives

A series of 6-X-3,8-dioxatricyclo[3.2.1.0^2,4]octanes (X?CO₂CH₃, CN, Cl and CN) are studied by NMR, after their syntheses by epoxidation of the corresponding 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes. The NMR parameters (J, δ) are determined, and also the anisotropy effects of methyl groups at the 1,5 bridgehead positions. The results allow an unambiguous identification of the diastereo-isomers having a gem-chlorocyano group in the 6 position.     

Wechselwirkungen in Kristallen. 106. Mitteilung. Die Klaviatur der Na⊕-Koordinationszahlen in ihren Carbazolanion-Salzen

Interaction in Crystals: The Keyboard of Na⊕ Coordination Numbers in Its Carbazole Anion Salts Some local minima in the shallow potential of the system carbazole anion, sodium cation, and the ethers tetrahydrofuran, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, diglyme, triglyme, tetraglyme, 15-crown-5 as well as 2.2.1-cryptand are explored experimentally and by quantum-chemical calculations. Three prototype contact-ion multiples of Na⊕-solvated carbazole anion M? salts have been crystallized and structurally characterized: polyether-solvated monomers [M?Na⊕_solv]₁, solvent-shared dimers [M?Na⊕_solv]₂, and solvent-separated polyions [(M?)nNa?_solv](^n?1)? [Na⊕_solv](n_?1). The Na⊕ coordination numbers stretch from 3 to 7 as illustrated by the compounds [(M?)₃Na+]??[Na+(2.2.1-crytand)]₂ for 3 and 7, [(M?)₂Na+(THF)₂]? [Na⊕(2.2.1-cryptand)] for 4 and 7, [M? Na+(diglyme)]₂ for 5, or [M? Na+(l 5-crown-5)] for 6. Structural comparison is based on literature analogies as well as on results of MNDO calculations concerning charge distribution and enthalpies of formation. Taken together, the results demonstrate the delicate energy balance, by which cation solvation can influence the formation of organic salts.     

Quantification of Ion‐Pairing Effects on the Nucleophilic Reactivities of Benzoyl‐ and Phenyl‐Substituted Carbanions in Dimethylsulfoxide

Second‐order rate constants for the reactions of acceptor‐substituted phenacyl (PhCO?CH^??Acc) and benzyl anions (Ph?CH^??Acc) with diarylcarbenium ions and quinone methides (reference electrophiles) have been determined in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution at 20 °C. By studying the kinetics in the presence of variable concentrations of potassium, sodium and lithium salts (up to 10^?2 mol L^?1), the influence of ion‐pairing on the reaction rates was examined. As the concentration of K⁺ did not have any influence on the rate constants at carbanion concentrations in the range of 10^?4–10^?3 mol L^?1, the acquired rate constants could be assigned to the reactivities of the free carbanions. The counter ion effects increase, however, in the series K⁺<Na⁺<Li⁺, and the sensitivity of the carbanion reactivities toward variation of the counter ion strongly depends on the structure of the carbanions. The reactivity parameters N and s_N of the free carbanions were derived from the linear plots of log k₂ against the electrophilicity parameters E of the reference electrophiles, according to the linear‐free energy relationship log k₂(20 °C)=s_N(N+E). These reactivity parameters can be used to predict absolute rate constants for the reactions of these carbanions with other electrophiles of known E parameters.     

Thermotropic ionic liquid crystals of pyridinium octylphosphate A N.M.R. and X-ray study

Abstract

A thermotropic ionic lamellar phase from non-stoichiometric pyridinium octyl-phosphates has been investigated by multinuclear N.M.R. and X-ray diffraction. At room temperature and above, this phase is formed for pyridine to octylphosphoric acid molar ratios from 0.2 to 0.8.²H and ¹³C relaxation experiments show that the pyridinium ion undergoes a very anisotropic motion with D_zz > D_xx ? D_yy, z and x being the perpendicular direction to the ring and the c ₂ symmetry axis, respectively. The order parameters given by the ²H quadrupolar splittings and the ¹³C chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) are S_zz = 0.13, S_yy = -0.08 and S_xx = -0.05, showing that the pyridinium ring is preferentially oriented parallel to the lamellar plane. The ³¹P CSA and the C1-P dipolar splitting yield S_zz = 0.33 and S_xx ? S_yy for the octylphosphate anion. The order parameters of alkyl C-H bonds have been obtained from the J resolved two-dimensional ¹³C N.M.R. spectra of oriented samples. Two limiting conformational models have been considered to calculate the S _CH. One of them is reasonably consistent with the structure derived from X-ray experiments and has been used to calculate the dipolar ³¹P relaxation. Taking into account the CSA contribution, the relaxation measurements performed at 36, 121 and 202 MHz show that the octylphosphate anion undergoes a quasi-axial reorientation about the long molecular axis x with D∥/D⊥ = 4 and D⊥ ? 10⁷ rad/s at 300 K.     

Rate constants for the gas-phase reaction of ozone with 1, 1-disubstituted alkenes

The gas-phase reaction of ozone with eight alkenes including six 1,1-disubstituted alkenes has been investigated at ambient T (285–298 K) and p = 1 atm. of air. The reaction rate constants are, in units of 10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹, 9.50 ± 1.23 for 3-methyl-1-butane, 13.1. ± 1.8 for 2-methyl-1-pentene, 11.3 ± 3.2 for 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene (isoprene), 7.75 ± 1.08 for 2,3,3-trimethyl-1-butene, 3.02 ± 0.52 for 3-methyl-2-isopropyl-1-butene, 3.98 ± 0.43 for 3,4-diethyl-2-hexene, 1.39 ± 17 for 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-pentene, and >370 for (cis + trans)-3,4-dimethyl-3-hexene. For isoprene, results from this study and earlier literature data are consistent with: k (cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) = 5.59 (+ 3.51, &minus 2.16) × 10⁻¹⁵ e^{(−3606±279/RT)}, n = 28, and R = 0.930. The reactivity of the other alkenes, six of which have not been studied before, is discussed in terms of alkyl substituent inductive and steric effects. For alkenes (except 1,1-disubstituted alkenes) that bear H, CH₃, and C₂H₅ substituents, reactivity towards ozone is related to the alkene ionization potential: In k<(10⁻¹⁸ cm³ molecule⁻¹ s⁻¹) = (32.89 ± 1.84) − (3.09 ± 0.20) IP (eV), n = 12, and R = 0.979. This relationship overpredicts the reactivity of C_≥3 1-alkenes, of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes, and of alkenes with bulky substituents, for which reactivity towards ozone is lower due to substituent steric effects. The atmospheric persistence of the alkenes studied is briefly discussed. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

High Pressure Study of NH4Pb2Br5 Type Compounds. I Structural Parameters and Their Evolution under High Pressure

We have investigated the nature of the interactions of ns²‐cations and the possible structure‐determining role of the ns²electron pair at ambient and high pressure in several AB₂X₅ (A = K, Rb, Cs, In, Tl; B = Sn, Pb, Sr; X = Cl, Br, I) compounds. Structural parameters are obtained by high pressure x‐ray diffraction as well as by quantum mechanical methods (DFT‐GGA‐calculations). The structural parameters at ambient and high pressure are discussed and compared to those of Tl₅Se₂I crystallising in the antitype structure. Short cation—cation distances in the NH₄Pb₂Br₅ type structure enable direct cation—cation interactions and the existence of an ns²‐cation in the B‐position is crucial for the stability of these structures. The effect of pressure on the structural parameters of these compounds gives new insights into the interactions of lone pair cations. The pronounced decrease of the cation—cation distances with pressure points to strongly increasing bonding interactions between the lone pair cations.     

Reactivity and gelation. I. Intrinsic reactivity

The method of Case is used with the Flory-Stockmayer gelation criterion to derive a critical transition equation for polycondensation of multifunctional reactants bearing coreactive functional groups of two species A and B, where the B groups may be of unequal intrinsic reactivity. Systems of the types R(A)₂/R′(B)₄ and R(A)₂/R′(B)₄/R′′(B)₂ are considered with the B groups divided into two classes characterized by a reactivity ratio in the range 0.1 to 10. If the reactivities are sufficiently different the polymerization can be regarded as a multistage process. Intramolecular reactions are not considered.     

Synthesis,structure, and kinetic studies on [RuCl2(NCCH3)2(cod)]

[RuCl₂(NCCH₃)₂(cod)], an alternative starting material to [RuCl₂(cod)] _n for the preparation of ruthenium(II) complexes, has been prepared from the polymer compound and isolated in yields up to 87% using a new work-up procedure. The compound has been obtained as a yellow solid without water of crystallization. The complexes [RuCl₂(NCR)₂(cod)] spontaneously transform into dimers [Ru₂Cl(μ-Cl)₃(cod)₂(NCR)] (R?=?Me, Ph). ¹H NMR kinetic experiments for these transformations evidenced first-order behavior. [RuCl₂(NCPh)₂(cod)] dimerizes slower by a factor of ten than [RuCl₂(NCCH₃)₂(cod)]. The following activation parameters, ΔH ^#?=?114?±?3?kJ?mol^?1 and ΔS ^#?=?66?±?9?J?K^?1?mol^?1 for R?=?CH₃CN (ΔG ^#?=?94?±?5?kJ?mol^?1, 298.15?K) and ΔH ^#?=?122?±?2?kJ?mol^?1 and ΔS ^#?=?75?±?6?J?K^?1?mol^?1 for R?=?Ph (ΔG ^#?=?100?±?4?kJ?mol^?1, 298.15?K), have been calculated from the first-order rate constants in the temperature range 294–323?K. The kinetic parameters are in agreement with a two-step mechanism with dissociation of acetonitrile as the rate-determining step. The molecular structures of [Ru₂Cl(μ-Cl)₃(cod)₂(NCR)] (R?=?Me, Ph) have been determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Polymerization of 1-methylthio-1-alkynes and polymer properties

Polymerization of 1-methylthio-1-alkynes (MeSC?CR; R = Et, n-Bu, n-C₆H₁₃, and n-C₈H₁₇) was studied by use of transition metal catalysts. A 1 : 2 mixture of MoCl₅ and Ph₃SiH provided polymers having M?_w over 1 × 10⁵ in 30–50% yields from these monomers. The length of the alkyl group hardly affected the polymerization. The monomer, MeSC?C-n-C₆H₁₃, showed low reactivity in homopolymerization, but higher reactivity than that of MeC?C-n-C₅H₁₁ in copolymerization. Poly(1-methylthio-1-alkyne)s were colorless solids, and those with long alkyl pendants (R = n-C₆H₁₃, n-C₈H₁₇) were soluble in various organic solvents. The present polymers were thermally more stable than poly(2-alkyne)s, the corresponding hydrocarbon polymers.     

Supermesityl-stabilisierte Iminoborane. III

Supermesityl stabilized Iminoboranes. III New Iminoboranes R? B?N? R′ (R = 2,4,6(t-Bu)₃C₆H₂), IIa – IIf , were obtained by base-induced HF-elimination from RBF? NHR′ ( Ia-Ie ) or directly from RBF₂ and lithiated H₂NR′ (for IIf ). Compounds II exhibit a differentiated behaviour upon thermal treatment depending on R′. While IIa (R′ = H) immediately reacts to give the corresponding benzo[1]borolane IIIa , the dimeric diazadiboretidine is formed from IIb (R′ = Me) at 100°C; IIc (R = Et) and IId (R = C₆H₅) deliver the benzo[1]borolanes IIIc and IIId when they are heated to 180°C (in melt). IIe (R = 2,6(i-Pr)C₆H₃) and IIf (R = adamantyl) are stable at 250°C. All compounds were characterized by elemental analyses and spectroscopically (MS, IR, NMR: ¹H, ¹³C, ¹¹B, ¹⁹F and in part ¹⁵N).     

Glycosylidene Carbenes. Part 31

The diastereoselectivity of the addition of NH₃ and MeNH₂ to glyconolactone oxime sulfonates and the structures of the resulting N‐unsubstituted and N‐methylated glycosylidene diaziridines were The ¹⁵N‐labelled glucono‐ and galactono‐1,5‐lactone oxime mesylates 1* and 9* add NH₃ mostly axially (>3 : 1; Scheme 4), while the ¹⁵N‐labelled mannono‐1,5‐lactone oxime sulfonate 19* adds NH₃ mostly equatorially (9 : 1; Scheme 7). The ¹⁵N‐labelled mannono‐1,4‐lactone oxime sulfonate 30* adds NH₃ mostly from the exo side (>4 : 1; Scheme 9). The configuration of the N‐methylated pyranosylidene diaziridines 17, 18, 28 , and 29 suggests that MeNH₂ adds to 1, 9, 19 , and 23 mostly to exclusively from the equatorial direction (>7 : 3; Schemes 5 and 8). The mannono‐1,4‐lactone oxime sulfonate 30 adds MeNH₂ mostly from the exo side (85 : 15; Scheme 10), while the ribo analogue 37 adds MeNH₂ mostly from the endo side (4 : 1; Scheme 10). Analysis of the preferred and of the reactive conformers of the tetrahedral intermediates suggests that the addition of the amine to lactone oxime sulfonates is kinetically controlled. The diastereoselectivity of the diaziridine formation is rationalized as the result of the competing influences of intramolecular H‐bonding during addition of the amines, steric interactions (addition of MeNH₂), and the kinetic anomeric effect. The diaziridines obtained from 2,3,5‐tri‐O‐benzyl‐D ‐ribono‐ and ‐D ‐arabinono‐1,4‐lactone oxime methanesulfonate ( 42 and 48 ; Scheme 11) decomposed readily to mixtures of 1,4‐dihydro‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazines, pentono‐1,4‐lactones, and pentonamides. The N‐unsubstituted gluco‐ and galactopyranosylidene diaziridines 2, 4, 6, 8 , and 10 are mixtures of two trans‐substituted isomers ( S / R ca. 19 : 1, Scheme 2). The main, (S,S)‐configured isomers S are stabilised by a weak intramolecular H‐bond from the pseudoaxial NH to RO? C(2). The diaziridines 12 , derived from GlcNAc, cannot form such a H‐bond; the (R,R)‐isomer dominates ( R / S 85 : 15; Scheme 3). The 2,3‐di‐O‐benzyl‐D ‐mannopyranosylidene diaziridines 20 and 22 adopt a ⁴C₁ conformation, which does not allow an intramolecular H‐bond; they are nearly 1 : 1 mixtures of R and S diastereoisomers, whereas the ^OH₅ conformation of the 2,3:5,6‐di‐O‐isopropylidene‐D ‐mannopyranosylidene diaziridines 24 is compatible with a weak H‐bond from the equatorial NH to O? C(2); the (R,R)‐isomer is favoured ( R / S ≥7 : 3; Scheme 6). The mannofuranosylidene diaziridine 31 completely prefers the (R,R)‐configuration (Scheme 9).     

Variation–iteration method for one-dimensional two-electron systems

A quantum chemical study of the two low-lying quartet states of seven model compound I iron–porphyrin complexes with varying axial ligands has been carried out using the INDO method. The varying axial ligands included in this study are five that are models for those in the intact enzymes: imidazole and imidazolate (model peroxidase HRP and CCP), CH₃CONH₂ (Gln175 mutant of CCP), PhO^?1 (catalase), CH₃S^?1 (P450), and two that have been used in biomimetics of these enzymes: Cl^?1 (hemin) and PhS^?1 (model P450s). The purpose of these studies was to determine the role of the axial ligands in determining (i) the relative energies of the two nearly degenerate quartet electronic states of compound I, involved either as an a_1u or a_2u porphyrin π cation radical and (ii) the electron and spin distributions in the a_1u and a_2u radical cations of compound I. For most of the model complexes, including both HRP-I and CAT-I, a moderate effect of the axial ligand on the relative energy of these two states was observed and the a_1u radical cation was found to be the ground state. The energy order of these two radical cations, however, was reversed in the P450-I model complexes, indicating an association of the unique property of the Fe?O bond breaking with an a_2u radical cation. The symmetry-allowed overlap between the Fe?O and 3a_2u orbitals may lower the activation energy for the Fe?O bond cleavage in P450-I. However, the calculated electronic and spin properties, including the unpaired spin and net charge on the oxygen and the Fe?O bond overlap density, important determinants of the reactivity of this complex in the ligand–Fe?O region, are very similar for all complexes and in both cation states. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Polar effects. Part 12. Inductivity and carbon participation in the solvolysis of 4-substituted 2-adamantyl arenesulfonates

The rate constants (log k) for the solvolysis of 4^e-substituted 2^e- and 2^a-adamantyl p-nitrobenzenesulfonates 14 and 15 , respectively, in 80% EtOH correlate linearly with the respective inductive substituent constants σ. Therefore, relative rates are controlled by the I effect of the substituents at C(4). The derived reaction constants, or inductivities, ρ_I of −0.80 and −0.64 for the series 14 and 15 , respectively, are far smaller than those previously determined for 6-substituted 2-norbornyl and 2-bicyclo[2.2.2]octyl sulfonates, in which the partial structure containing the substituent and the leaving group is the same. The ratio of the retained and inverted adamantanols obtained upon hydrolysis of the series 14 falls from 2.85 for R = CH₃ to ca. 1 for R = CN, i.e. as the substituent at C(4) becomes more electron-attracting. In the 2^a-series 15 this ratio is uniformly higher. These findings confirm that the 2-adamantyl cation is weakly bridged and that through-space induction in carbocations involves graded bridging of the cationic center by neighboring C-atoms.     

Versatile reactivity of half-sandwich Ir and Rh complexes toward carboranylamidinates and their derivatives: synthesis, structure, and catalytic activity for norbornene polymerization

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of carboranylamidinate‐based half‐sandwich iridium and rhodium complexes are reported for the first time. Treatment of dimeric metal complexes [{Cp*M(μ‐Cl)Cl}₂] (M=Ir, Rh; Cp*=η⁵‐C₅Me₅) with a solution of one equivalent of nBuLi and a carboranylamidine produces 18‐electron complexes [Cp*IrCl(Cab^N‐DIC)] ( 1 a ; Cab^N‐DIC=[iPrN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NHiPr)]), [Cp*RhCl(Cab^N‐DIC)] ( 1 b ), and [Cp*RhCl(Cab^N‐DCC)] ( 1 c ; Cab^N‐DCC=[CyN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NHCy)]). A series of 16‐electron half‐sandwich Ir and Rh complexes [Cp*Ir(Cab^N′‐DIC)] ( 2 a ; Cab^N′‐DIC=[iPrN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NiPr)]), [Cp*Ir(Cab^N′‐DCC)] ( 2 b , Cab^N′‐DCC=[CyN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NCy)]), and [Cp*Rh(Cab^N′‐DIC)] ( 2 c ) is also obtained when an excess of nBuLi is used. The unexpected products [Cp*M(Cab^N,S‐DIC)], [Cp*M(Cab^N,S‐DCC)] (M=Ir 3 a , 3 b ; Rh 3 c , 3 d ), formed through BH activation, are obtained by reaction of [{Cp*MCl₂}₂] with carboranylamidinate sulfides [RN?C(closo‐1,2‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀)(NHR)]S^? (R=iPr, Cy), which can be prepared by inserting sulfur into the C? Li bond of lithium carboranylamidinates. Iridium complex 1 a shows catalytic activities of up to 2.69×10⁶ g_PNB ${{\rm{mol}}_{{\rm{Ir}}}^{ - {\rm{1}}} }Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of carboranylamidinate-based half-sandwich iridium and rhodium complexes are reported for the first time. Treatment of dimeric metal complexes [{Cp*M(μ-Cl)Cl}(2)] (M = Ir, Rh; Cp* = η(5)-C(5)Me(5)) with a solution of one equivalent of nBuLi and a carboranylamidine produces 18-electron complexes [Cp*IrCl(Cab(N)-DIC)] (1?a; Cab(N)-DIC = [iPrN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))(NHiPr)]), [Cp*RhCl(Cab(N)-DIC)] (1?b), and [Cp*RhCl(Cab(N)-DCC)] (1?c; Cab(N)-DCC = [CyN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))(NHCy)]). A series of 16-electron half-sandwich Ir and Rh complexes [Cp*Ir(Cab(N')-DIC)] (2?a; Cab(N')-DIC = [iPrN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))(NiPr)]), [Cp*Ir(Cab(N')-DCC)] (2?b, Cab(N')-DCC = [CyN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10)(NCy)]), and [Cp*Rh(Cab(N')-DIC)] (2?c) is also obtained when an excess of nBuLi is used. The unexpected products [Cp*M(Cab(N,S)-DIC)], [Cp*M(Cab(N,S)-DCC)] (M = Ir 3?a, 3?b; Rh 3?c, 3?d), formed through BH activation, are obtained by reaction of [{Cp*MCl(2)}(2)] with carboranylamidinate sulfides [RN=C(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))(NHR)]S(-) (R = iPr, Cy), which can be prepared by inserting sulfur into the C-Li bond of lithium carboranylamidinates. Iridium complex 1?a shows catalytic activities of up to 2.69×10(6) g(PNB) mol(Ir)(-1) h(-1) for the polymerization of norbornene in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) as cocatalyst. Catalytic activities and the molecular weight of polynorbornene (PNB) were investigated under various reaction conditions. All complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis and IR and NMR spectroscopy; the structures of 1?a-c, 2?a, b; and 3?a, b, d were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction.