Dodecahydro‐nido‐undecaborate [B11H12]3–

The deprotonation of the nido‐anion [B₁₁H₁₄]^– by two equivalents of LitBu yields the anion [B₁₁H₁₂]^3–. Three observed ¹¹B NMR shifts of this anion in the ratio 1 : 5 : 5 are in agreement with shifts calculated by the GIAO method on the basis of the ab initio computed geometry. The deprotonation can be reversed, giving back [B₁₁H₁₄]^– via [B₁₁H₁₃]^2–. The thermolysis of [Li(thp)_x]₃[B₁₁H₁₂] in thp at 80 °C leads to the closo‐borate [Li(thp)₃]₂[B₁₁H₁₁] under elimination of LiH. Anhydrous air transforms [B₁₁H₁₂]^3– into the known oxa‐nido‐dodecaborate [OB₁₁H₁₂]^–. The rhoda‐closo‐dodecaborate [L₂RhB₁₁H₁₁]^3– is formed from [B₁₁H₁₂]^3– and RhL₃Cl (L = PPh₃).     

Dodecahydro‐closo‐undecaborate [B11H12]–

DFT‐calculations of the geometries of the closo‐anion [B₁₁H₁₁]^2– in its ground state and in the transition state of its skeletal rearrangement and of the protonated species [B₁₁H₁₂]^– in its ground state were performed at the B3LYP/6‐31++G(d,p) level. The corresponding NMR shifts were computed on the basis of the optimized geometry by the GIAO method at the same level. Calculated and observed NMR data are in good agreement and thus prove the structure of [B₁₁H₁₂]^–, previously deduced from 2 D‐NMR spectra. The addition of water, ethanol, and pyridine to [B₁₁H₁₂]^– at low temperature gave the nido‐species [B₁₁H₁₃(OH)]^–, [B₁₁H₁₃(OEt)]^–, and [B₁₁H₁₂(py)]^–, respectively. The structures of these anions were investigated by NMR methods and the last two of them by crystal structure analyses of appropriate salts. The course of the addition reactions can be rationalized on the basis of the structurally characterized reaction components.     

Aza‐nido‐dodecaboranes and ‐borates from Aza‐closo‐dodecaboranes by the Addition of Neutral or Anionic Bases: Mechanism

The addition of neutral (L = py, NEt₃, NHEt₂, NH₂tBu) and anionic Lewis bases (X^‐ = OH^‐, Br^‐, N₃^‐, Me^‐, NHBu ^‐, NHtBu^‐, [FeCp(CO)₂]^‐) to aza‐closo‐dodecaboranes RNB₁₁H₁₁ ( 1 ) or to derivatives thereof with boron bound non‐hydrogen ligands yields nido‐clusters RNB₁₁H₁₁L or [RNB₁₁H₁₁X]^‐ or derivatives thereof, respectively, the non‐planar pentagonal aperture N—B4—B9—B8—B5 of which hosts a B8—B9 hydrogen bridge. The base is either bound to B8 ( 3 )or B4 ( 5 )or B2( 7 ). The structures of these adducts are concluded from ¹H and ¹¹B NMR including 2D‐NMR spectra, and in the case of MeNB₁₁H₁₁(NHEt₂) (type 3 ) also by a crystal structure analysis. With two of the adducts MeNB₁₁H₁₁L (L = py, NHEt₂), isomers of the type 3 , 5 , and 7 , and with two of the adducts, MeNB₁₁H₁₁(NH₂tBu) and {MeNB₁₁H₁₁[FeCp(CO)₂]}^‐, isomers of the type 3 and 7 could be identified. The position of boron‐bound ligands during the addition of bases to 1 shows, that only vertices of the ortho‐belt of 1 are involved in the opening process. A mechanism is made plausible that starts by the attack of the base at B2 of 1 and opening of the N‐B2 bond, denoted as a [3c, 1c]‐collocation, to give 2 with an endo‐H atom, whose migration into an adjacent bridge position and opening of a second B—N bond, denoted as a [3c, 2c]‐translocation, gives 3 ; this isomer can be transformed into 7 by a sequence of [3c, 2c]‐translocations via the isomers 4 , 5 , and 6 . The chiral type 3 species MeNB₁₁H₁₁L with L = NHEt₂, NH₂tBu undergo a rapid enantiomerization, for whose mechanism the exchange of the bridging and the amine‐H atom has been made plausible.     

Electrophile‐Induced Nucleophilic Substitution of the nido‐Dicarbaundecaborate Anion nido‐7,8‐C2B9H12− by Conjugated Heterodienes

Substitution of the dicarbaundecaborate anion nido‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₂^? ( 1 ) by precise hydride abstraction followed by nucleophilic attack usually leads to symmetric products 10‐R‐nido‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₁. However, thioacetamide (MeC(S)NH₂) as nucleophile and acetone/AlCl₃ as hydride abstractor gave asymmetric 9‐[MeC(NHiPr)S]‐nido‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₁ ( 2 ), whereas N,N‐dimethylthioacetamide (MeC(S)NMe₂) gave the expected symmetric 10‐[MeC(NMe₂)S]‐nido‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₁ ( 4 ). For the formation of 2 , acetone and thioacetamide are assumed to give the intermediate MeC(S)N(CMe₂) ( 3 ), which then attacks 1 with formation of 2 . Similarly, reaction of acetyliminium chloride [MeC(O)NH(CPh₂)]Cl ( 5 ) with 1 in THF gave a mixture of 9‐ and 10‐substituted [MeC(NHCHPh₂)O]‐nido‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₁ ( 6 and 7 , respectively). These reactions are the first examples in which compounds (here heterodienes) that unite the functionalities of both hydride acceptor and nucleophilic site react with 1 in a bimolecular fashion. Furthermore, the analogous reaction of 1 and 5 (in an equilibrium mixture with acetyl chloride and benzophenone imine) in MeCN afforded 10‐[MeC(NCPh₂)NH]‐nido‐7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₁ ( 8 ) and MeC(O)NHCHPh₂ ( 9 ).     

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.     

[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.     

1‐Amino‐2‐fluoromonocarba‐closo‐dodecaborates: K[1‐H2N‐2‐F‐closo‐1‐CB11H10] and [Et4N][1‐H2N‐2‐F‐closo‐1‐CB11I10]

The potassium salt of the [1‐H₂N‐2‐F‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₀]^– anion ( 1 ) was obtained from an insertion reaction of Li₃[7‐H₂N‐nido‐7‐CB₁₀H₁₀] with BF₃ · OEt₂. Anion 1 was protonated to the neutral species 1‐H₃N‐2‐F‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₀ (H 1 ) and it was iodinated with ICl to the [1‐H₂N‐2‐F‐closo‐1‐CB₁₁I₁₀]^– anion ( 2 ). All species were characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy as well as by elemental analysis. The structure of H 1· (CH₃)₂CO was studied by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and the experimentally determined bond lengths are compared to values derived from density functional calculations.     

Das Lanthan‐Dodekahydro‐closo‐Dodekaborat‐Hydrat [La(H2O)9]2[B12H12]3·15 H2O und sein Oxonium‐Chlorid‐Derivat [La(H2O)9](H3O)Cl2[B12H12]·H2O

The Lanthanum Dodecahydro‐closo‐Dodecaborate Hydrate [La(H₂O)₉]₂[B₁₂H₁₂]₃·15 H₂O and its Oxonium‐Chloride Derivative [La(H₂O)₉](H₃O)Cl₂[B₁₂H₁₂]·H₂O By neutralization of an aqueous solution of the free acid (H₃O)₂[B₁₂H₁₂] with basic La₂O₃ and after isothermic evaporation colourless, face‐rich single crystals of a water‐rich lanthanum(III) dodecahydro‐closo‐dodecaborate hydrate [La(H₂O)₉]₂[B₁₂H₁₂]₃·15 H₂O are isolated. The compound crystallizes in the trigonal system with the centrosymmetric space group (a = 1189.95(2), c = 7313.27(9) pm, c/a = 6.146; Z = 6; measuring temperature: 100 K). The crystal structure of [La(H₂O)₉]₂[B₁₂H₁₂]₃·15 H₂O can be characterized by two of each other independent, one into another posed motives of lattice components. The [B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ anions (d(B–B) = 177–179 pm; d(B–H) = 105–116 pm) are arranged according to the samarium structure, while the La³⁺ cations are arranged according to the copper structure. The lanthanum cations are coordinated in first sphere by nine oxygen atoms from water molecules in form of a threecapped trigonal prism (d(La–O) = 251–262 pm). A coordinative influence of the [B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ anions on La³⁺ has not been determined. Since “zeolitic” water of hydratation is also present, obviously the classical H–O^δ–···^+δH–O‐hydrogen bonds play a significant role in the stabilization of the crystal structure. During the conversion of an aqueous solution of (H₃O)₂[B₁₂H₁₂] with lanthanum trichloride an anion‐mixed salt with the composition [La(H₂O)₉](H₃O)Cl₂[B₁₂H₁₂]·H₂O is obtained. The compound crystallizes in the hexagonal system with the non‐centrosymmetric space group (a = 808.84(3), c = 2064.51(8) pm, c/a = 2.552; Z = 2; measuring temperature: 293 K). The crystal structure can be characterized as a layer‐like structure, in which [B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ anions and H₃O⁺ cations alternate with layers of [La(H₂O)₉]³⁺ cations (d(La–O) = 252–260 pm) and Cl⁻ anions along [001]. The [B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ (d(B–B) = 176–179 pm; d(B–H) = 104–113 pm) and Cl⁻ anions exhibit no coordinative influence on La³⁺. Hydrogen bonds are formed between the H₃O⁺ cations and [B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ anions, also between the water molecules of [La(H₂O)₉]³⁺ and Cl⁻ anions, which contribute to the stabilization of the crystal structure.     

Undecahalo‐closo‐undecaborates [B11Hal11]2–

The closo‐undecaborate A₂[B₁₁H₁₁] (A = NBzlEt₃) can be halogenated with excess N‐chlorosuccine imide, bromine or iodine, respectively, to give the perhalo‐closo‐undecaborates A₂[B₁₁Hal₁₁] (Hal = Cl, Br, I). The chlorination in the 11 : 1 ratio of the reagents yields A₂[B₁₁HCl₁₀], whose subsequent iodination makes A₂[B₁₁Cl₁₀I] available. The three type [B₁₁Hal₁₁]^2– anions show only one and the two type [B₁₁Cl₁₀X]^2– anions (X = H, I) only two ¹¹B NMR peaks in the ratio 10 : 1, thus exhibiting the same degenerate rearrangement of the octadecahedral B₁₁ skeleton as is well‐known for [B₁₁H₁₁]^2–. The crystal structure analysis of A₂[B₁₁Br₁₁] and A₂[B₁₁I₁₁] reveals a rigid octadecahedral skeleton in the solid state, up to 330 K, whose B–B bond lengths deviate more or less from the idealized C_2v gas phase structure, but are in good accordance with the distances of A₂[B₁₁H₁₁]. Electrochemical experiments elucidate the mechanism of the known oxidation of [B₁₁H₁₁]^2– to give [B₂₂H₂₂]^2–: A first one‐electron transfer is followed by the dimerization of the [B₁₁H₁₁]^– monoanion, whereas neutral B₁₁H₁₁, a presumably most reactive species, does not play a role as an intermediate. The electrochemical oxidation of [B₁₁Hal₁₁]^2– anions also starts with a one‐electron transfer, which is perfectly reversible only in the case of Hal = Br. There is no electrochemical indication for the formation of [B₂₂Hal₂₂]^2–. The neutral species B₁₁Hal₁₁ should be a short‐lived, very reactive species.     

Hydroboration of Alkenes and Alkynes with Aza‐nido‐decaboranes

The 6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes RNB₉H₁₁ ( 1a—d ; R = H, Ph, 4‐C₆H₄Me, 4‐C₆H₄Cl) act as 1, 2‐hydroboration agents via their 9‐BH vertex, giving products RNB₉H₁₀R′. The boranes 1a, b and 3‐hexyne yield the 9‐(1‐ethyl‐1‐butenyl)‐6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes 2a, b (R′ = CEt = CHEt). 2, 3‐Dimethyl‐2‐butene is hydroborated by 1a—d under formation of the 9‐(1, 1, 2‐trimethylpropyl)‐6‐aza‐nido‐decaboranes 3a—d (R′ = —CMe₂ —CHMe₂). With the boranes 1a—c and (trimethylsilyl)ethene, a 85:15 mixture of the products (RNB₉H₁₀)CH₂CH₂(SiMe₃)( 4a—c ) and their chiral isomers (RNB₉H₁₀)CH(SiMe₃)CH₃ ( 5a—c ) is obtained. The action of BH₃(SMe₂) on the mixtures 4b/5b or 4c/5c results in a closure of the nido‐NB₉ skeleton of 4b or 4c , respectively, with a closo‐NB₁₁ skeleton of the products RNB₁₁H₁₀R′ ( 6b or 6c;R′ = CH₂CH₂(SiMe₃)); R′ is found in position 7 of 6b, c . All products of the type 2—6 are characterised by NMR.     

Reactions at the B–B Bond of Tri‐tert‐butylazadiboriridine NB2R3: Ring Extensions

The OCO carboxylate unit of pivalic acid adds to the B–B bond of the azadiboriridine NB₂R₃ ( 1 a , R = tBu) to give the chiral heterocyclohexadiene 2 a ; the enantiomers of 2 a are transformed into one another by a [1,3] sigmatropic hydride transfer along the B–N–B ring fragment. The azadiboracyclopentanes 3 a – e are formed from 1 a and the alkenes ethene, propene, isobutene, (trimethylsilyl)ethene, and 2,3‐dimethyl‐1‐butene. Only one double bond of cyclopentadiene and 1,3‐butadiene reacts in the same way to give 3 f , g , respectively, and both of the double bonds of 1,3‐butadiene react with an excess of 1 a to give 3 h , which is obtained in a 9 : 1 mixture of racemate and meso‐isomer; the meso‐isomer crystallizes in the space group P2₁/n. The corresponding diazadiboracyclopentane 3 i and the triazadiboracyclopentane 3 j are formed from 1 a and N‐phenyl benzaldimine or azobenzene, respectively. Ethyne and 1 a give either the azadiboracyclopentene 4 a (1 : 1) or the diazatetraborabicyclo[3.3.0]octane 3 k (1 : 2). The phosphaalkyne P≡C–tBu and 1 a  analogously yield the heterocyclopentene 4 c . The insertion of SitBu₂ into 1 a to give the azasiladiboracyclobutane 5 a is achieved by applying Li powder and tBu₂SiCl₂. The hitherto unknown azadiboriridines BN₂R₂R′ (R = tBu; R′ = 1‐iPr, 2‐Mes, 2‐CMe₂Et: 1 b – d ) were synthesized by the chloroboration of the iminoboranes RB≡NiPr and RB≡NR with RBCl₂, MesBCl₂, and (EtMe₂C)BCl₂, respectively, and subsequent dechlorination of the isolated and characterized diborylamines Cl–BR–NiPr–BR–Cl ( 6 a ), Cl–BR–NR–BMes–Cl ( 6 b ), and Cl–BR–NR–B(CMe₂Et)–Cl ( 6 c ), respectively, with lithium (Mes = mesityl).The azadiboriridine 1 b dimerizes to give the diaza‐nido‐hexaborane 7 a , whereas 1 c and 1 d are storable at room temperature. The product 1 c crystallizes as a racemate in the space group P2₁/c; its ring geometry differs from that of the known N‐mesityl isomer.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of three nido 11‐vertex platinaborane clusters

The reaction of [PtCl₂(PPh₃)₂] with closo‐B₁₀H₁₀^2? in ethanol under reflux conditions gave two nido 11‐vertex platinaundecaborane clusters: [(PPh₃)₂PtB₁₀H₁₀‐8,10‐(OEt)₂]·CH₂Cl₂ (1) and [(PPh₃)₂PtB₁₀H₁₁‐11‐OEt]·CH₂Cl₂ (2) . A novel B₁₀H₁₀^2? deboronated nido 11‐vertex diplatinaundecaborane [(µ‐PPh₂)(PPh₃)₂Pt₂B₉H₆‐3,9,11‐(OEt)₃]·CH₂Cl₂ (3) was obtained when the same reaction was carried out under solvothermal conditions. All of these compounds were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Both clusters 1 and 2 have a nido 11‐vertex {PtB₁₀} polyhedral skeleton in which the Pt atom lies in the open PtB₄ face. Each Pt atom connects with four B atoms and two P atoms of the PPh₃ ligands. Cluster 3 has a nido 11‐vertex {Pt₂B₉} polyhedral skeleton in which two Pt atoms sit in neighbouring positions of the open Pt₂B₃ face, bridged by a PPh₂ group. Each Pt atom connects three B atoms and a P atom of the PPh₃ ligand. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

ChemInform Abstract: Structures of arachno‐ and hypho‐B10 Clusters and Stability of Their Possible Lewis Base Adducts ([B10H12]2‐, [B10H12×L]2‐, [B10H12×2L]2‐, [B10H13]‐, [B10H13×L]‐, [B10H12×2L]). An ab initio/IGLO/NMR Investigation.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Crystal Structures of [N(CH3)4]2[B12H12] and [N(CH3)4]2[B12H12] · CH3CN

Bis(tetramethylammonium) dodecahydrododecaborate, [(CH₃)₄N]₂[B₁₂H₁₂], and bis(tetramethylammonium) dodecahydrododecaborate acetonitrile, [(CH₃)₄N]₂[B₁₂H₁₂] · CH₃CN, were synthesized and characterized via Infrared, ¹H and ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy. [(CH₃)₄N]₂[B₁₂H₁₂] crystallizes isopunctual to the alkali metal dodecaborates. The crystal structure of [(CH₃)₄N]₂[B₁₂H₁₂] · CH₃CN was determined from single crystal data and refined in the orthorhombic crystal system (Pcmn, no. 62, a = 898.68(8), b = 1312.85(9) c = 1994.5(1) pm, R(|F| , 4σ) = 5.9%, wR(F²) = 18.3%). Here, the geometry of the dodecaborate anion is that of an almost ideal icosahedron, less distorted than most other dodecaborates known. By low‐temperature Guinier‐Simon diffractometry phase transitions were detected for [(CH₃)₄N]₂[B₁₂H₁₂] and [(CH₃)₄N]₂[B₁₂H₁₂] · CH₃CN at –70 and –15 °C, respectively.     

[{[(η7-C2B10H12)(η6-C2B10H12)U][K2(thf)5]}2]: A Metallacarborane Containing the Novel η7-C2B10H124− Ligand

The tetranion ligand η⁷-C₂B₁₀H₁₂⁴⁻ has been observed for the first time in 1 , which was obtained from the reaction of o-C₂B₁₀H₁₂ with excess K metal followed by treatment with UCl₄. As shown in the picture (without K cations and coordinated THF molecules), 1 is a centrosymmetric dimer with a bent sandwich structure.     

L,L‐Lactide and ε‐Caprolactone Block Copolymers by a ‘Poly(L,L‐lactide) Block First’ Route

L,L ‐lactide (LA) and ε‐caprolactone (CL) block copolymers have been prepared by initiating the poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) block growth with living poly(L,L ‐lactide) (PLA*). In the previous attempts to prepare block copolymers this way only random copolyesters were obtained because the PLA* + CL cross‐propagation rate was lower than that of the PLA–CL* + PLA transesterification. The present paper shows that application of Al‐alkoxide active centers that bear bulky diphenolate ligands results in efficient suppression of the transesterification. Thus, the corresponding well‐defined di‐ and triblock copolymers could be prepared.

     

Synthesis and Characterization of Li‐containing Boron Carbide r‐Li~1B13C2

Transparent and nearly colorless single crystals of r‐LiB₁₃C₂ were obtained by reaction of boron with Li₂CO₃ in a Cu melt at 1250–1300 °C. The structure analysis [R3 m, a = 5.6535(1), c = 12.5320(2) Å, 421 independent reflections, 22 parameters, R₁ = 0.034, wR₂ = 0.093] revealed a crystal structure that can be described as a filling variant of rhombohedral B₁₃C₂. Li⁺ is located in a void above or below the linear CBC unit. The site occupation is close to 50 % resulting in an electron‐precise composition according to Wade's rules if a positive charge is given to the CBC entity: Li⁺(B₁₂)^2–(CBC)⁺. The displacement parameters of the CBC unit indicate disorder in the [001] direction, that relates to the short Li–C distance and the partial occupation of the Li⁺ site. The composition is confirmed by EELS measurements of single crystals. Band gap calculations give a value of 2.94 eV, which is in agreement to the crystals being colorless. The evaluation of the electron density by application of the QTAIM formalism as proposed by Bader modifies the assignment pictured above according to Wade's rules. In agreement to the electronegativities the carbon atoms carry a negative charge (–2.31/–2.42) and the effective charges are: Li^+0.81(B₁₂)^+2.02(CBC)^–2.83.     

Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Iso‐Cladospolide B and the 12 Membered‐Macrolactone (6S,12R)‐6‐Hydroxy‐12‐methyloxacyclododecane‐2,5‐dione

Total syntheses of iso‐cladospolide B ( 1 ) and the 12‐membered macrolactone (6S,12R)‐6‐hydroxy‐12‐methyloxacyclododecane‐2,5‐dione ( 2 ), a non‐natural product, were achieved from a common intermediate starting from commercially available 1,9‐nonane diol.     

Isomeric icosaboranes B20H26: the synchrotron structure of 1,1′‐bis(nido‐decaboranyl)

An isomer of B₂₀H₂₆, isolated from the autolysis of nido‐B₁₀H₁₄ in a silent electrical discharge, is shown to be the title compound 1,1′‐bis(nido‐decaboranyl). The mol­ecule has crystallographic inversion symmetry and a long intercage B—B bond of 1.704 (3) Å.     

BF3‐OEt2‐Mediated Rearrangement of (4‐Phenylpiperidin‐4‐Yl)‐Arylmethanols

Synthesis of several 4‐benzhydrylidenepiperidine analogs has been established starting from different (4‐phenylpiperidin‐4‐yl)‐arylmethanols via boron trifluoride etherate mediated rearrangement. The possible rearranged mechanism was proposed. Boron trifluoride etherate‐mediated rearrangement of the related derivatives was also examined. It presents a novel rearrangement reaction catalyzed by boron trifluoride etherate and broadens the scope of application.