Metal‐Free Oxidative B−N Coupling of nido‐Carborane with N‐Heterocycles

A general method for the oxidative substitution of nido‐carborane (7,8‐C₂B₉H₁₂^?) with N‐heterocycles has been developed by using 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyanobenzoquinone (DDQ) as an oxidant. This metal‐free B?N coupling strategy, in both inter‐ and intramolecular fashions, gave rise to a wide array of charge‐compensated, boron‐substituted nido‐carboranes in high yields (up to 97 %) with excellent functional‐group tolerance under mild reaction conditions. The reaction mechanism was investigated by density‐functional theory (DFT) calculations. A successive single‐electron transfer (SET), B?H hydrogen‐atom transfer (HAT), and nucleophilic attack pathway is proposed. This method provides a new approach to nitrogen‐containing carboranes with potential applications in medicine and materials.