Rhodium(III)‐Catalyzed Alkenylation–Annulation of closo‐Dodecaborate Anions through Double B−H Activation at Room Temperature

1,2,3‐Trisubstituted closo‐dodecaborates with B?O, B?N, and B?C bonds as well as a fused borane oxazole ring have been synthesized by rhodium‐catalyzed direct cage B?H alkenylation and annulation of ureido boranes in the first reported example of regioselective B?H bond functionalization of the [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? cage by transition‐metal catalysis. This reaction proceeded at room temperature under ambient conditions and exhibited excellent selectivity for efficient monoalkenylation with good functional‐group tolerance. The urea moiety enabled B?H activation by acting as a directing group, was incorporated in the oxazole ring in situ, and also avoided multiple alkenylation. A possible mechanism is proposed on the basis of the isolation of a rhodium agostic intermediate and control experiments.     

14‐Vertex Heteroboranes with 14 Skeletal Electron Pairs: An Experimental and Computational Study

Three isomers of [(Cp*Ru)₂C₂B₁₀H₁₂], the first examples of 14‐vertex heteroboranes containing 14‐skeletal electron pairs, have been synthesized by the direct electrophilic insertion of a {Cp*Ru⁺} fragment into the anion [4‐Cp*‐4,1,6‐RuC₂B₁₀H₁₂]^?. All three compounds have the same unique polyhedral structure having an approximate C_s symmetry and featuring a four‐atom trapezoidal face. X‐ray diffraction studies could confidently identify only one of the two cage C atoms in each structure. The other C atom position has been established by a combination of i) best fitting of computed and experimental ¹¹B and ¹H NMR chemical shifts, and ii) consideration of the lowest computed energy for series of isomers studied by DFT calculations. In all three isomers, one cage C atom occupies a degree‐4 vertex on the short parallel edge of the trapezium.     

1‐Oxa‐nido‐dodecaborate [OB11H12]− from the Controlled Oxidation of the closo‐Borates [B11H11]2− and [B12H12]2−

The closo‐dodecaborate [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? is degraded at room temperature by oxygen in an acidic aqueous solution in the course of several weeks to give B(OH)₃. The degradation is induced by Ag²⁺ ions, generated from Ag⁺ by the action of H₂S₂O₈. Oxa‐nido‐dodecaborate(1?) is an intermediate anion, that can be separated from the reaction mixture as [NBzlEt₃][OB₁₁H₁₂] after five days in a yield of 18 %. The action of FeCl₃ on the closo‐undecaborate [B₁₁H₁₁]^2? in an aqueous solution gives either [B₂₂H₂₂]^2? (by fusion) or nido‐B₁₁H₁₃(OH)^? (by protonation and hydration), depending on the concentration of FeCl₃. In acetonitrile, however, [B₁₁H₁₁]^2? is transformed into [OB₁₁H₁₂]^? by Fe³⁺ and oxygen. The radical anions [B₁₂H₁₂] ^{˙ ?} and [B₁₁H₁₁] ^{˙ ?} are assumed to be the primary products of the oxidation with the one‐electron oxidants Ag²⁺ and Fe³⁺, respectively. These radical anions are subsequently transformed into [OB₁₁H₁₂]^? by oxygen. The crystal structure analysis shows that the structure of [OB₁₁H₁₂]^? is derived from the hypothetical closo‐oxaborane OB₁₂H₁₂ by removal of the B3 vertex, leaving a non‐planar pentagonal aperture with a three‐coordinate O vertex, as predicted by NMR spectra and theory.     

Two isostructural carboranes: 3‐phenyl‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12) and 1‐phenyl‐1,7‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12)

Two phenyl‐substituted carboranes, 3‐phenyl‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12), C₈H₁₆B₁₀, (I), and 1‐phenyl‐1,7‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12), C₈H₁₆B₁₀, (II), were found to be isostructural. Comparison of the bond angles at the ipso‐C atoms of the phenyl substituent for (I) and (II) [117.71 (3) and 118.45 (10)°, respectively] indicates that electron donation of the carborane cage for B‐ and C‐substituted carboranes is different.     

Substituent‐Stabilized Organic Dianions in the Gas Phase and Their Potential Use as Electrolytes in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Using density functional theory and a hybrid exchange‐correlation functional, a systematic study of the stability and electronic structure of neutral and multiply charged organic molecules, B_nC_6?nX₆ (n=0, 1, 2; X=H, F, CN) and B_nC_5?nX₅ (n=0, 1; X=H, F, CN) is performed. The results show that in addition to the aromaticity of the molecules, substituents play an important role in stabilizing the organic dianion complexes. In particular, it is demonstrated that CN groups are responsible for the stability of organic dianions as it has recently been found to be the case in B‐cage compounds such as B₁₂(CN)₁₂^2? and CB₁₁(CN)₁₂^2?. It is also shown that the stable organic dianions B₂C₄(CN)₆^2? and BC₄(CN)₅^2? might be halogen‐free electrolytes in Li‐ion batteries.     

Metal‐induced B–H Activation. Addition of Methyl Acetylene Carboxylates to Cp*Rh‐ and Cp*Ir 16 e Halfsandwich Complexes containing a Chelating 1,2‐Dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane‐1,2‐diselenolato Ligand

Reactions of the 16e halfsandwich complexes Cp*M[Se₂C₂(B₁₀H₁₀)] ( 5 M = Rh, 6 M = Ir) with both methyl acetylene monocarboxylate and dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate were studied in order to obtain information on the influence of the chalcogen (selenium versus sulfur), as well as further evidence for B–H activation, ortho‐metalation and substitution of the carborane. In the case of the rhodium‐selenium complex 5 , the reaction with methyl acetylene monocarboxylate gave products which were all structurally different compared to those of the sulfur analogue of 5 : a polycyclic derivative 12 with a B(6)‐substituted carborane cage was obtained as one of the final products; in addition, both geometrical isomers containing a Rh–B bond ( 10 , 11 ) and isomers without a Rh–B bond ( 8 , 9 ) were isolated, the latter being the result of twofold insertion into one of the Rh–Se bonds. In the case of the iridium‐selenium complex 6 , the reaction with methyl acetylene monocarboxylate led to the geometrical isomers 13 and 14 (similar to 10 and 11 ) with structures possessing an Ir–B bond. Both 5 and 6 reacted with dimethyl acetylene dicarboxylate at room temperature to give the complexes 15 and 16 which are formed by addition of the C≡C unit to the metal center and insertion into one of the metal‐selenium bonds. The proposed structures in solution were deduced from NMR data (¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C, ⁷⁷Se, ¹⁰³Rh NMR), and an X‐ray structural analysis was carried out for the rhodium complex 12 .     

1,2‐Bis­(methylsulfanyl)‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12)

In the title compound, 1,2‐(SCH₃)₂‐1,2‐closo‐C₂B₁₀H₁₀ or C₄H₁₆B₁₀S₂, the methylsulfanyl groups are bonded to the C atoms of the 1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane cage. The C_cage—C_cage distance is 1.8033 (18) Å and the S—C_cage—C_cage—S torsion angle is 1.07 (13)°. The C_cage—C_cage distance is compared with those in other 1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane derivatives.     

[Et4N][7‐Me2S‐nido‐B11H12]

Tetraethyl­ammonium 7‐di­methyl­sulfanyl‐nido‐dodeca­hydro­undecaborate, [Et₄N][7‐Me₂S‐nido‐B₁₁H₁₂] or C₈H₂₀N⁺·C₂H₁₈B₁₁S⁻, is a product of the deprotonation of [7‐Me₂S‐nido‐B₁₁H₁₃] with KHBEt₃ and precipitation with tetraethyl­ammonium chloride. The effect of removing one endo‐terminal H atom is to cause a general contraction of the open‐face B—B distances.     

7‐{Di­phenyl­[(tri­phenyl­phos­phine)­aurio]­phos­phine(1+)‐P}‐8‐methyl‐7,8‐dicarba‐nido‐undecaborate(1–) dichloro­methane hemi­solvate

The title compound, 7‐[(Ph₂P)Au(PPh₃)]‐8‐(CH₃)‐7,8‐nido‐C₂B₉H₁₀]·­0.5CH₂Cl₂ or [Au(C₁₅H₂₃B₉P)­(C₁₈H₁₅P)]·­0.5CH₂Cl₂, is the first reported gold derivative of the ligand [7‐­(Ph₂P)‐8‐(CH₃)‐7,8‐nido‐C₂B₉H₁₀]^?. It has a mono­nuclear structure with the gold centre in an essentially linear coordination [P—Au—P 174.041 (15)°]. The open C₂B₃ face contains one H atom that is strongly bonded to the central B atom and semi‐bridging to a neighbouring B atom [B—H distances 1.070 (16) and 1.45 (3) Å].     

Bismuth Undecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborane: A Retainable Intermediate of B−H Bond Activation by Bismuth(III) Cations

The [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? anion shows an extensive substitutional chemistry based on its three‐dimensional aromaticity. The replacement of functional groups can be attained by electrophilically induced substitution caused by Brønsted or Lewis acidic electrophiles (e.g. Pt²⁺). Until now, it was impossible to structurally characterize a metal‐substituted [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? cage. When an aqueous solution containing both Bi³⁺ cations and [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? anions was heated, the charge‐neutral bismuth undecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborane BiB₁₂H₁₁ was obtained, representing a new class of metalated [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? clusters. The title compound was characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopic methods. Compared to the typical B?H bond, the short B?Bi single bond (230 pm) exhibits inverted polarity.     

The dimeric mixed‐ligand titana­carborane sandwich [1‐(Cp)‐1‐Ti‐2‐(Me)‐3‐(SiMe3)‐2,3‐C2B4H4]2

The title dimer, bis­[1‐cyclo­penta­dienyl‐2‐methyl‐1‐titana‐3‐tri­methylsilyl‐2,3‐dicarba‐closo‐hexaborane(6)], [Ti(C₅H₅)(C₆­H₁₆­B₄Si)]₂, reveals that the centrosymmetric mol­ecule consists of two bent‐sandwich titanacarboranes bridged by the B—H—Ti bonds. The average bond distances are Ti—B 2.445 (3), Ti—C(cage) 2.334 (2) and Ti—C(Cp) 2.376 (3) Å, and the corresponding bond angles are Cp—Ti—Cp 163.2 (1) and Cp—Ti—Cb (Cb = C₂B₃ face) 139.9 (1)°; the Ti—H separations are 2.10 (2) and 2.19 (2) Å.     

On the Oxidation of the Three‐Dimensional Aromatics [B12X12]2− (X=F,Cl, Br,I)

The perhalogenated closo‐dodecaborate dianions [B₁₂X₁₂]^2? (X=H, F, Cl, Br, I) are three‐dimensional counterparts to the two‐dimensional aromatics C₆X₆ (X=H, F, Cl, Br, I). Whereas oxidation of the parent compounds [B₁₂H₁₂]^2? and benzene does not lead to isolable radicals, the perhalogenated analogues can be oxidized by chemical or electrochemical methods to give stable radicals. The chemical oxidation of the closo‐dodecaborate dianions [B₁₂X₁₂]^2? with the strong oxidizer AsF₅ in liquid sulfur dioxide (lSO₂) yielded the corresponding radical anions [B₁₂X₁₂] ^{? ?} (X=F, Cl, Br). The presence of radical ions was proven by EPR and UV/Vis spectroscopy and supported by quantum chemical calculations. Use of an excess amount of the oxidizing agent allowed the synthesis of the neutral perhalogenated hypercloso‐boranes B₁₂X₁₂ (X=Cl, Br). These compounds were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction of dark blue B₁₂Cl₁₂ and [Na(SO₂)₆][B₁₂Br₁₂] ? B₁₂Br₁₂. Sublimation of the crude reaction products that contained B₁₂X₁₂ (X=Cl, Br) resulted in pure dark blue B₁₂Cl₁₂ or decomposition to red B₉Br₉, respectively. The energetics of the oxidation processes in the gas phase were calculated by DFT methods at the PBE0/def2‐TZVPP level of theory. They revealed the trend of increasing ionization potentials of the [B₁₂X₁₂]^2? dianions by going from fluorine to bromine as halogen substituent. The oxidation of all [B₁₂X₁₂]^2? dianions was also studied in the gas phase by mass spectrometry in an ion trap. The electrochemical oxidation of the closo‐dodecaborate dianions [B₁₂X₁₂]^2? (X=F, Cl, Br, I) by cyclic and Osteryoung square‐wave voltammetry in liquid sulfur dioxide or acetonitrile showed very good agreement with quantum chemical calculations in the gas phase. For [B₁₂X₁₂]^2? (X=F, Cl, Br) the first and second oxidation processes are detected. Whereas the first process is quasi‐reversible (with oxidation potentials in the range between +1.68 and +2.29 V (lSO₂, versus ferrocene/ferrocenium (Fc^0/+))), the second process is irreversible (with oxidation potentials ranging from +2.63 to +2.71 V (lSO₂, versus Fc^0/+)). [B₁₂I₁₂]^2? showed a complex oxidation behavior in cyclic voltammetry experiments, presumably owing to decomposition of the cluster anion under release of iodide, which also explains the failure to isolate the respective radical by chemical oxidation.     

Difunctionalized {closo‐1‐CB11} Clusters: 1‐ and 2‐Amino‐12‐ethynylcarba‐closo‐dodecaborates

Carba‐closo‐dodecaborate anions with two functional groups have been synthesized via a simple two‐step procedure starting from monoamino‐functionalized {closo‐1‐CB₁₁} clusters. Iodination at the antipodal boron atom provided access to [1‐H₂N‐12‐I‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₀]^? ( 1 a ) and [2‐H₂N‐12‐I‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₀]^? ( 2 a ), which have been transformed into the anions [1‐H₂N‐12‐RC?C‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₀]^? (R=H ( 1 b ), Ph ( 1 c ), Et₃Si ( 1 d )) and [2‐H₂N‐12‐RC?C‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₀]^? (R=H ( 2 b ), Ph ( 2 c ), Et₃Si ( 2 d )) by microwave‐assisted Kumada‐type cross‐coupling reactions. The syntheses of the inner salts 1‐Me₃N‐12‐RC?C‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₀ (R=H ( 1 e ), Et₃Si ( 1 f )) and 2‐Me₃N‐12‐RC?C‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₀ (R=H ( 2 e ), Et₃Si ( 2 f )) are the first examples for a further derivatization of the new anions. All {closo‐1‐CB₁₁} clusters have been characterized by multinuclear NMR and vibrational spectroscopy as well as by mass spectrometry. The crystal structures of Cs 1 a , [Et₄N] 2 a , K 1 b , [Et₄N] 1 c , [Et₄N] 2 c , 1 e , and [Et₄N][1‐H₂N‐2‐F‐12‐I‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₉]?0.5 H₂O ([Et₄N ]4 a ?0.5 H₂O) have been determined. Experimental spectroscopic data and especially spectroscopic data and bond properties derived from DFT calculations provide some information on the importance of inductive and resonance‐type effects for the transfer of electronic effects through the {closo‐1‐CB₁₁} cage.     

Ten‐vertex rhodadithiaborane ­chemistry: [8‐{I(CH2)5}‐3‐(η5‐C5Me5)‐arachno‐3,7,8‐RhS2B8H9]

Neutral 8‐(5‐iodo‐n‐pentyl)‐3‐(η⁵‐penta­methyl­cyclo­pentadi­enyl)‐arachno‐3‐rhoda‐7,8‐di­thia­undecaborane, [Rh(C₅H₁₉B₈­IS₂)­(C₁₀H₁₅)], obtained from the [arachno‐7,8‐S₂B₉H₁₀]^? anion by treatment with I(CH₂)₅I followed by [Rh(C₅Me₅)Cl₂]₂ and N,N,N′,N′‐tetra­methyl‐1,8‐di­amino­naphthalene, has the 11‐vertex cluster geometry of [arachno‐7,8‐S₂B₉H₁₀]^?, but with an {Rh(C₅Me₅)} unit in the 3‐position instead of a {BH} unit, and with a –(CH₂)₅I chain attached exo to an S atom.     

η5‐(3)‐1‐Methyl‐1,2‐dicarbollyl‐η5‐2′,5′‐dimethylpyrrolylcobalt(III)

In the title compound, (η⁵‐2,5‐di­methyl­pyrrolyl)[(7,8,9,10,11‐η)‐7‐methyl‐7,8‐dicarba‐nido‐undecaborato]­cobalt(III), [3‐Co{η⁵‐[2,5‐(CH₃)₂‐NC₄H₂]}‐1‐CH₃‐1,2‐C₂B₉H₁₀] or [Co(C₃H₁₃B₉)(C₆H₈N)], the Co^III atom is sandwiched between the pentagonal faces of the pyrrolyl and dicarbollide ligands, resulting in a neutral mol­ecule. The C—C distance in the dicarbollide cage is 1.649 (3) Å.     

The exopolyhedral ligand orientation (ELO) in 3‐(nitrato‐κO)‐3,3‐bis(triphenylphosphane‐κP)‐3‐rhoda‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(11) dichloromethane 2.2‐solvate

In the title compound, [Rh(C₂H₁₁B₉)(NO₃)(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂]·2.2CH₂Cl₂, studied as a 2.2‐solvate of what was assumed to be dichloromethane, the nitrate ligand lies cis with respect to both cage C atoms. Accordingly, the compound displays a pronounced preferred exopolyhedral ligand orientation (ELO) which is traced to both the greater trans influence of the cage B over the cage C atoms and the greater trans influence of the triphenylphosphane ligands over the nitrate ligand. The overall molecular architecture therefore agrees with that of a number of similar 3‐L‐3,3‐L′₂‐3,1,2‐closo‐MC₂B₉H₁₁ species in the literature.     

[1,1,2,2‐(CO)4‐1,2‐μ‐(CO)‐4,11‐(SMe2)2‐closo‐1,2‐Co2B10H8]

The title compound, 1,1,2,2‐tetra­carbonyl‐1,2‐μ‐carbonyl‐4,11‐di­methyl­sulfido‐closo‐1,2‐dicobaltadodecaborane, [Co₂(C₄H₂₀B₁₀S₂)(CO)₅], has a closo 12‐vertex {1,2‐Co₂B₁₀H₈} structure with SMe₂ ligands at the exo‐4‐ and 11‐positions. The cluster displays close structural similarities to the SEt₂ analogue.     

Formation and Structure of an Anionic Ruthenaborane Compound:[Et4N][(PPh3)2ClRuB12H12]

在研究RuCl2(PPh3)3 和 closo-B10H102- 在乙醇中的反应时,意外分离得到一个阴离子型的钌硼烷化合物[Et4N][(PPh3)2ClRuB12H12], 并且经过红外光谱和单晶X射线衍射分析确证. 在其结构中,闭式B12H122-配体与Ru(II)中心通过三个B-H-Ru三中心-二电子键结合. 分析原因应是在通过文献方法制备闭式B10H102-时的少量副产物闭式B12H122-在反应体系中与RuCl2(PPh3)3反应而生成了标题化合物. 根据硼烷簇合物的电子计数规则, 标题化合物也可以看成是含有2n (n为簇顶点数)个骨架电子的pileo型簇合物, 具有加帽(capped)的闭式多面体骨架构型. 这是第一个阴离子型的含有闭式B12H122- 的钌化合物.     

11‐Vertex arachno‐Clusters with an NB10, SNB9, and SeNB9 Skeleton

One of the two bridging protons of the aza‐nido‐decaboranes RNB₉H₁₀X can be removed by certain bases to give nido‐anions [RNB₉H₉X]^– [R/X = H/H ( 1 a ), Ph/H ( 1 b ), p‐MeC₆H₄/H ( 1 c ), Bzl/H ( 1 d ), H/N₃ ( 1 ′ a )]; the stericly demanding base 1,8‐bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene (“proton sponge”, ps) is ideal. In the case of tBu anion, the deprotonation (→ C₄H₁₀) may be accompanied by a hydridation (→ C₄H₈), yielding the arachno‐anions [RNB₉H₁₁X]^– ( 2 a , b , d , 2 ′ a ); these are the main products, when stericly non‐demanding bases like H^– are applied. The Lewis acid BH₃ is added to 1 a and 1 ′ a to give the aza‐arachno‐undecaborates HNB₁₀H₁₂X [X = H ( 3 a ), N₃ (in position 2) ( 3 ′ a )]. Thia‐ and selenaaza‐arachno‐undecaborates, [S(RN)B₉H₁₀]^– ( 4 b , c ) and [Se(RN)B₉H₁₀]^– ( 4 ′ b , c ), are obtained from 1 b , c by the addition of sulfur or selenium, respectively. The methylation of the anions 4 c and 4 ′ c gives the thia‐ and selenaazaarachno‐undecaboranes (MeS)(RN)B₉H₁₀ ( 5 c ) and (MeSe)(RN)B₉H₁₀ ( 5 ′ c ), respectively. The action of HBF₄ on the arachno‐borates [HNB₁₀H₁₂X]^– ( 3 a , 3 ′ a ) leads to a mixture of nido‐HNB₉H₁₀X and nido‐HNB₁₀H₁₁X by the elimination of BH₃ or H₂, respectively; the aza‐nido‐decaborane predominates in the case of 3 ′ a and the aza‐nido‐undecaborane in the case of 3 a . The action of HBF₄ on the anion 4 c yields the hypho‐undecaborate [S(RN)B₉H₁₀F₂]^– ( 6 c ). The structures of the products are elucidated on the basis of ¹H and ¹¹B NMR spectra, supported by 2D COSY and HMQC techniques. Two types of 11‐vertex‐arachno structures and an 11‐vertex‐hypho structure are found for the products. The crystal structures of 5 c and [Hps] 6 c · CH₂Cl₂ are reported.     

Li2B12 and Li3B12: Prediction of the Smallest Tubular and Cage‐like Boron Structures

An intriguing structural transition from the quasi‐planar form of B₁₂ cluster upon the interaction with lithium atoms is reported. High‐level computations show that the lowest energy structures of LiB₁₂, Li₂B₁₂, and Li₃B₁₂ have quasi‐planar (C_s), tubular (D_6d), and cage‐like (C_s) geometries, respectively. The energetic cost of distorting the B₁₂ quasi‐planar fragment is overcompensated by an enhanced electrostatic interaction between the Li cations and the tubular or cage‐like B₁₂ fragments, which is the main reason of such drastic structural changes, resulting in the smallest tubular (Li₂B₁₂) and cage‐like (Li₃B₁₂) boron structures reported to date.