Haloaza‐closo‐dodecaboranes

The bromo‐ and iodoaza‐closo‐dodecaboranes HNB₁₁H₁₀Hal (Hal = Br, I), MeNB₁₁H₉Br₂, and MeNB₁₁H₈Br₃ are formed from [NB₁₁H₁₁]^– and MeNB₁₁H₁₁, respectively, by electrophilic halogenation with elementary halogen in the presence of acidic catalysts. Hydrogen in para‐ or in para‐ and meta‐position with respect to the cluster‐N atom is substituted by halogen. With iodine chloride as halogenation agent, all the 11 boron bound H atoms of MeNB₁₁H₁₁ are substituted to give HNB₁₁Cl₅I₆ with iodine in the para‐ and meta‐ and chlorine in the ortho‐positions, presumably via electrophilic (I) and nucleophilic substitution (Cl). The products are characterized by their NMR spectra, the product HNB₁₁Cl₅I₆ also by crystal structure analysis.     

Dynamic Permutational Isomerism in a closo‐Cluster

Permutational isomers of trigonal bipyramidal [W₂RhIr₂(CO)₉(η⁵‐C₅H₅)₂(η⁵‐C₅HMe₄)] result from competitive capping of either a W₂Ir or a WIr₂ face of the tetrahedral cluster [W₂Ir₂(CO)₁₀(η⁵‐C₅H₅)₂] from its reaction with [Rh(CO)₂(η⁵‐C₅HMe₄)]. The permutational isomers slowly interconvert in solution by a cluster metal vertex exchange that is proposed to proceed by Rh?Ir and Rh?W bond cleavage and reformation, and via the intermediacy of an edge‐bridged tetrahedral transition state. The permutational isomers display differing chemical and physical properties: replacement of CO by PPh₃ occurs at one permutational isomer only, while the isomers display distinct optical power limiting behavior.     

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.     

Stanna‐closo‐dodecaborate: A New Ligand in Coordination Chemistry

Most of the divalent compounds of tin have a lone pair and hence can act as donors. In tin‐transition metal chemistry neutral molecules as well as anions have been studied as ligands. This research report summarizes recent research on coordination compounds with a closo‐heteroborate cage compound stanna‐closo‐dodecaborate [SnB₁₁H₁₁]^2?. The syntheses of the first coordination compounds and studies on the ligand abilities of this tin borate are discussed in this article.     

Intermolecular dihydrogen‐ and hydrogen‐bonding interactions in diammonium closo‐decahydrodecaborate sesquihydrate

The asymmetric unit of the title salt, 2NH₄⁺·B₁₀H₁₀²⁻·1.5H₂O or (NH₄)₂B₁₀H₁₀·1.5H₂O, (I), contains two B₁₀H₁₀²⁻ anions, four NH₄⁺ cations and three water molecules. (I) was converted to the anhydrous compound (NH₄)₂B₁₀H₁₀, (II), by heating to 343 K and its X‐ray powder pattern was obtained. The extended structure of (I) shows two types of hydrogen‐bonding interactions (N—H...O and O—H...O) and two types of dihydrogen‐bonding interactions (N—H...H—B and O—H...H—B). The N—H...H—B dihydrogen bonding forms a two‐dimensional sheet structure, and hydrogen bonding (N—H...O and O—H...O) and O—H...H—B dihydrogen bonding link the respective sheets to form a three‐dimensional polymeric network structure. Compound (II) has been shown to form a polymer with the accompanying loss of H₂ at a faster rate than (NH₄)₂B₁₂H₁₂ and we believe that this is due to the stronger dihydrogen‐bonding interactions shown in the hydrate (I).     

Relative Stability of closo‐closo,closo‐nido,and nido‐nido Macropolyhedral Boranes: The Role of Orbital Compatibility

The concept of orbital compatibility is used to explain the relative energies of different macropolyhedral structural patterns such as closo‐closo, closo‐nido, and nido‐nido. A large polyhedral borane condenses preferentially with a smaller polyhedron owing to orbital compatibility. Calculations carried out at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level show that the macropolyhedron closo(12)‐closo(6) is the most preferred structural pattern among the face‐sharing closo‐closo systems. The relative stabilities of four‐shared‐atom closo‐closo, three‐shared‐atom closo‐closo, three‐shared‐atom closo‐nido, edge‐sharing closo‐nido, and edge‐sharing nido‐nido structures are in accordance with the difference in the number of vertices of the individual polyhedra of the macropolyhedra. When the difference in the number of vertices of the individual polyhedra is large, the stability of the macropolyhedra is also large. Calculations further show that the orbital compatibility plays an important role in deciding the stability of the macropolyhedral boranes with more than two polyhedral units. The dependence of the orbital compatibility on the relative stability of the macropolyhedron varies with other factors such as inherent stability of the individual polyhedron and steric factors.     

Functionalization of closo‐Borates via Iodonium Zwitterions

A simple method for the functionalization of closo‐borates [closo‐B₁₀H₁₀]^2? ( 1 ), [closo‐1‐CB₉H₁₀]^? ( 2 ), [closo‐B₁₂H₁₂]^2? ( 3 ), [closo‐1‐CB₁₁H₁₂]^? ( 4 ), and [3,3′‐Co(1,2‐C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]^? ( 5 ) is described. Treatment of the anions and their derivatives with ArI(OAc)₂ gave aryliodonium zwitterions, which were sufficiently stable for chromatographic purification. The reactions of these zwitterions with nucleophiles provided facile access to pyridinium, sulfonium, thiol, carbonitrile, acetoxy, and amino derivatives. The synthetic results are augmented by mechanistic considerations.     

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.     

Preparation of undecamethylated and hexamethylated 1‐halocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate anions

We report an improved synthesis of 1‐halocarba‐closo‐dodecaborate anions 1‐Hal–CB₁₁H and their efficient conversion to the undecamethylated anions 1‐Hal–CB₁₁Me (Hal = Cl, Br, I) and the hexamethylated anions 1‐Hal‐(7–12)‐(CH₃)₆–CB₁₁H (Hal = F, Cl) by treatment with methyl triflate in sulfolane in the presence of calcium hydride to remove the triflic acid byproduct. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 17:217–223, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/hc.20224     

Synthesis and Structure of Tetrameric Germa‐closo‐dodecaborate Silver Halides

The reaction of germa‐closo‐dodecaborate with oneequivalent of silver halide AgX (X = Cl, Br) leads to the tetrameric1:1 adducts [Et₃MeN]₈[{AgCl(GeB₁₁H₁₁)}₄] ( 1 ) and [Et₃MeN]₈[{AgBr(GeB₁₁H₁₁)}₄] ( 2 ). A cubane‐like structure was determined in the solid state by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The compounds were characterized by crystal structure analysis, ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis.     

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.     

ChemInform Abstract: Relative Stability of closo‐closo,closo‐nido,and nido‐nido Macropolyhedral Boranes: The Role of Orbital Compatibility

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 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.     

Der erste molekulare quadratisch‐antiprismatische Ga8‐Cluster mit closo‐Struktur

The First Molecular Square Antiprismatic Ga₈ Cluster exhibiting a closo Structure Ga₈(C₁₃H₉)₈^2– has been synthesized as a lithium salt from a reaction of fluorenyllithium with a metastable Ga^IBr solution. It is characterized by X‐ray structure analysis and DFT calculations. The eight Ga atoms form a square antiprismatic core and each Ga atom is σ‐bonded to a fluorenyl ligand. The Ga₈ entity of the cluster is described as a closo compound in contrast to the earlier presented species Ga₁₂(C₁₃H₉)₁₀^2–. This interpretation is based on DFT calculations for Ga₈H₈^2– and B₈H₈^2–.     

How to Make 8,1,2‐closo‐MC2B9 Metallacarboranes

Three examples of the rare 8,1,2‐closo‐MC₂B₉ isomeric form of an icosahedral metallacarborane have been isolated as unexpected trace products in reactions. Seeking to understand how these were formed we considered both the nature of the reactions that were being undertaken and the nature of the coproducts. This led us to propose a mechanism for the formation of the 8,1,2‐closo‐MC₂B₉ species. The mechanism was then tested, leading to the first deliberate synthesis of an example of this isomer. Thus, deboronation of 4‐(η‐C₅H₅)‐4,1,8‐closo‐CoC₂B₁₀H₁₂ selectively removes the B5 vertex to yield the dianion [nido‐(η‐C₅H₅)CoC₂B₉H₁₁]^2?, oxidative closure of which affords 8‐(η‐C₅H₅)‐8,1,2‐closo‐CoC₂B₉H₁₁ in moderate yield.     

Coordination of a closo‐Cluster at Rhodium and Iridium

Stanna‐closo‐dodecaborate [Bu₃MeN]₂[SnB₁₁H₁₁] reacts as a nucleophile with the rhodium and iridium electrophiles of type [Cp*M(bipy′)Cl][BF₄] under formation of a transition metal tin bond. The zwitterionic molecules [Cp*M(bipy′)(SnB₁₁H₁₁)] (with M = Rh, Ir) were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses and X‐ray crystal structure analyses. A high dipole moment of 25.67 D was calculated by DFT methods in the case of the rhodium derivative.     

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.     

9,12‐Di­iodo‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(12)

The title compound, C₂H₁₀B₁₀I₂, has a pseudo‐icosahedral cluster geometry. The crystal structure features an intermole­cular C—H⋯I—B hydrogen bond with a normalized H⋯I distance of 3.00 Å.