Response Factor Correction for Estimation of Ester Content in Biodiesel

EN 14103 is generally used for quantification of ester content in biodiesel free of heptadecanoate ester (C17:0) or methyl nonadecanoate (C19:0), which are employed as internal standards. It was observed that ester content obtained by EN 14103 method did not match with theoretical value of biodiesel, as the method did not take care of response factors of each component to compensate for changes in detector sensitivities. In this study, the whole range of fatty acid (C₆–C_24:1) methyl esters have been taken into consideration for the calculation of the ester content. Methyl nonadecanoate (C19:0) was used as an internal standard. The response factors of both the saturated and unsaturated methyl esters in the range C₆–C_24:1 were estimated and found in the range 0.97–1.16. The ester content was calculated after applying the response factors of each methyl ester. The results obtained by this method agreed well with the theoretical value as compared to estimated value using EN14103 method. The results obtained from this method also show good correlation (R ² = 0.98) with ¹H-NMR method. Further, this method does not depend on nature of biodiesel feed stock and is applicable to all methyl biodiesel samples obtained from different raw materials.     

Chemiluminescence of Electrochemically Oxidized 9‐(Phenylthiophosphoryloxymethylidene)‐10‐methylacridan Derivatives

The electrochemistry and electrochemiluminescence (ECL) properties of acridan phosphate ester are reported. Electrochemical oxidation of 9‐(phenylthiophosphoryloxymethylidene)‐10‐methylacridan disodium salt (Compound 1) yields the corresponding acridinium ester. The latter undergoes a fast reaction with hydrogen peroxide forming an intermediate, which produces electronically excited 9‐methyl acridone and emits blue light after relaxation to the ground state. The electrochemical oxidation of this compound appears to occur in two one‐electron steps and light emission is observed for both steps. The chemiluminescence reaction could also be triggered by electrochemical oxidation of Compound 1 in the absence of H₂O₂ when the solution was saturated with O₂. Mechanisms for these reactions based on ECL, voltammetry and in situ UV‐vis identification of the oxidation products are proposed. Due to the low electrode potential required to achieve ECL emission and the occurrence of light emission in the absence of hydrogen peroxide, this compound is proposed as a label for rapid and sensitive determination of biomolecules in automated analysis.     

Chemoselectivity Control in the Asymmetric Hydrogenation of γ‐ and δ‐Keto Esters into Hydroxy Esters or Diols

The asymmetric hydrogenation of aromatic γ‐ and δ‐keto esters into optically active hydroxy esters or diols under the catalysis of a novel DIPSkewphos/3‐AMIQ–Ru^II complex was studied. Under the optimized conditions (8 atm H₂ , Ru complex/t‐C₄H₉OK=1:3.5, 25 °C) the γ‐ and δ‐hydroxy esters (including γ‐lactones) were obtained quantitatively with 97–99 % ee. When the reaction was conducted under somewhat harsh conditions (20 atm H₂ , [t‐C₄H₉OK]=50 mm , 40 °C), the 1,4‐ and 1,5‐diols were obtained predominantly with 95–99 % ee. The reactivity of the ester group was notably dependent on the length of the carbon spacer between the two carbonyl moieties of the substrate. The reaction of β‐ and ?‐keto esters selectively afforded the hydroxy esters regardless of the reaction conditions. This catalyst system was applied to the enantioselective and regioselective (for one of the two ester groups) hydrogenation of a γ‐?‐diketo diester into a trihydroxy ester.     

Halbsandwich‐Komplexe von Ruthenium(II), Rhodium(III) und Iridium(III) mit Tripeptidestern aus α‐, β‐ und γ‐Aminosäuren als Liganden. — Peptidsynthese und Cyclisierung zu Cyclotripeptiden am Metallzentrum

Metal Complexes with Biological Important Ligands. CXLII. Half Sandwich Complexes of Ruthenium(II), Rhodium(III), and Iridium(III) with Tripeptide Esters from α‐, β‐, and γ‐Amino Acids as Ligands. — Peptide Synthesis and Cyclization to Cyclotripeptides at Metal Centers Halfsandwich complexes of ruthenium, rhodium and iridium with deprotonated N, N', N"‐tripeptide ester ligands were obtained from chloro bridged compounds and tripeptide methyl esters ( 1—6 ) or by peptide synthesis at a metal centre ( 9—15 ). For the peptide synthesis at the complex (C₆Me₆)Ru coordinated dipeptide methyl esters from glycine and β‐alanine or γ‐amino butyric acid were elongated by an a‐amino acid methylester. The tripeptide ester Ru(η⁶‐C₆Me₆) complexes with chiral amino acid components and an “asymmetric” metal atom are formed with high diastereoselectivity. The tripeptide esters Gly‐Gly‐β‐AlaOMe, Val‐Gly‐β‐AlaOMe and Phe‐Gly‐β‐AlaOMe can be condensated at the (C₆Me₆)Ru complex with sodium methanolate to give triple deprotonated cyclic tripeptides.     

Catalytic Ethanolysis of Kraft Lignin into High‐Value Small‐Molecular Chemicals over a Nanostructured α‐Molybdenum Carbide Catalyst

We report the complete ethanolysis of Kraft lignin over an α‐MoC_1?x/AC catalyst in pure ethanol at 280 °C to give high‐value chemicals of low molecular weight with a maximum overall yield of the 25 most abundant liquid products (LP25) of 1.64 g per gram of lignin. The LP25 products consisted of C₆–C₁₀ esters, alcohols, arenes, phenols, and benzyl alcohols with an overall heating value of 36.5 MJ kg^?1. C₆ alcohols and C₈ esters predominated and accounted for 82 wt % of the LP25 products. No oligomers or char were formed in the process. With our catalyst, ethanol is the only effective solvent for the reaction. Supercritical ethanol on its own degrades Kraft lignin into a mixture of small molecules and molecular fragments of intermediate size with molecular weights in the range 700–1400, differing in steps of 58 units, which is the weight of the branched‐chain linkage C₃H₆O in lignin. Hydrogen was found to have a negative effect on the formation of the low‐molecular‐weight products.     

Methyl 2,6‐dicarboxybenzoate

Regioselective methyl­ation of hemimellitic acid in basic MeOH yields the title 2‐methyl ester, C₁₀H₈O₆, of the parent acid. The asymmetric unit contains one complete mol­ecule, which packs with the methyl ester groups lying between zigzag chains produced by hydrogen bonding, utilizing the head‐to‐tail carboxylic acid–acid dimer motif.     

Peroxide initiated maleic anhydride grafting: Structural studies on an ester‐containing copolymer and related substrates

Maleic anhydride (MAn) was grafted onto the low molecular weight esters methyl decanoate (MD) and methyl 2‐ethylhexanoate (MEH) using the free‐radical initiators Lupersol‐101 and ‐130; the esters were used as model compounds for the copolymer poly(ethylene‐co‐methyl acrylate). The grafted products in both cases were isolated from the unreacted ester and were subjected to extensive analysis using spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. Analysis of the grafted material indicated the presence of one or more succinic anhydride (SAn) residues grafted to the ester. In the case of the multiply grafted material it has been established conclusively by ¹³C‐NMR using 2,3‐¹³C₂ labeled MAn that the multiple grafts exist as single units. A limited number of grafting experiments was performed on the copolymer in the melt and the graft‐modified copolymer was characterized spectroscopically. Single graft units were observed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 1609–1618, 1999     

A Solid State Polymer‐Coated Electrode Containing a Chiral Crown Ether Derivative for Enantioselective Detection of Phenylglycine Methyl Ester Isomer

All solid‐state enantioselective electrode (ASESE) based on a newly synthesized chiral crown ether derivative ((R)‐(?)‐(3,3′‐diphenyl‐1,1′‐binaphthyl)‐23‐crown‐6 incorporating 1,4‐dimethoxybenzene) was prepared and characterized by potentiometry. The ASESE clearly showed enantiomer discrimination for methyl esters of alanine, leucine, valine, phenylalanine, and phenylglycine, where the enantioselectivity for phenylglycine methyl ester was the highest (K_R,S=8.5±7.1%). Experimental parameters of ASESE for the analysis of (R)‐(?)‐phenylglycine methyl ester were optimized. The optimized ASESE showed a slope of 55.3±0.2 mV/dec for (R)‐(?)‐phenylglycine methyl ester in the concentration range of 1.0×10^?5–1.0×10^?2 M and the detection limit was 9.0×10^?6 M. The ASESE showed good selectivity for (R)‐(?)‐phenylglycine methyl ester against inorganic cations and various amino acid methyl esters. The concentration of (R)‐(?)‐phenylglycine methyl ester was determined in the mixture of (R)‐(?) and (S)‐(+)‐phenylglycine methyl ester, which ratios varied from 2 : 1 to 1 : 9. The lifespan of the electrode was alleged to be 30 days.     

Four oxoindole‐linked α‐alkoxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives

Four structures of oxoindolyl α‐hydroxy‐β‐amino acid derivatives, namely, methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐methoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₄H₂₈N₂O₆, (I), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐ethoxy‐2‐phenylacetate, C₂₅H₃₀N₂O₆, (II), methyl 2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐[(4‐methoxybenzyl)oxy]‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₁H₃₄N₂O₇, (III), and methyl 2‐[(anthracen‐9‐yl)methoxy]‐2‐{3‐[(tert‐butoxycarbonyl)amino]‐1‐methyl‐2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl}‐2‐phenylacetate, C₃₈H₃₆N₂O₆, (IV), have been determined. The diastereoselectivity of the chemical reaction involving α‐diazoesters and isatin imines in the presence of benzyl alcohol is confirmed through the relative configuration of the two stereogenic centres. In esters (I) and (III), the amide group adopts an anti conformation, whereas the conformation is syn in esters (II) and (IV). Nevertheless, the amide group forms intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds with the ester and ether O atoms in all four structures. The ether‐linked substituents are in the extended conformation in all four structures. Ester (II) is dominated by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions. In contrast, the remaining three structures are sustained by C—H...O hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

Polyesters by lipase-catalyzed polycondensation of unsaturated and epoxidized long-chain α,ω-dicarboxylic acid methyl esters with diols

Long-chain, symmetrically unsaturated α,ω-dicarboxylic acid methyl esters (C₁₈, C₂₀, C₂₆) were obtained by the catalytic metathetical condensation of 9-decenoic, 10-undecenoic, and 13-tetradecenoic acid methyl esters, respectively, with the homogeneous Grubbs catalyst bis(tricyclohexyl phosphine) benzylidene ruthenium dichloride dissolved in methylene chloride. The dicarboxylic acid esters were epoxidized chemoenzymatically with H₂O₂/methyl acetate with Novozym 435^®, an immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica. Polyesters from symmetrically unsaturated or epoxidized α,ω-dicarboxylic acid methyl esters with 1,3-propanediol or 1,4-butanediol, respectively, were achieved by enzymatic polycondensation with the same biocatalyst applied. With 1,3-propanediol as a substrate, the linear unsaturated and epoxidized polyesters had molecular weights of 1950–3300 g/mol and melting points of 47–75 °C, whereas with 1,4-butanediol as a substrate, the resulting polyesters showed higher molecular weights, 7900–11,600 g/mol, with similar melting points of 55–74 °C. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1601–1609, 2001     

Rhodium‐Catalyzed 1,4‐Addition of Lithium 2‐Furyltriolborates to Unsaturated Ketones and Esters for Enantioselective Synthesis of γ‐Oxo‐Carboxylic Acids By Oxidation of the Furyl Ring with Ozone

Rhodium‐catalyzed 1,4‐addition of lithium 5‐methyl‐2‐furyltriolborate ([ArB(OCH₂)₃CCH₃]Li, Ar=5‐methyl‐2‐furyl) to unsaturated ketones to give β‐furyl ketones was followed by ozonolysis of the furyl ring for enantioselective synthesis of γ‐oxo‐carboxylic acids. [Rh(nbd)₂]BF₄ (nbd=2,5‐norbornadiene) chelated with 2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (binap) or 2,3‐bis(diphenylphosphino)butane (chiraphos) gave high yields and high selectivities in a range of 91–99 % ee at 30 °C in a basic dioxane/water solution. The corresponding reaction of unsaturated esters, such as methyl crotonate, had strong resistance under analogous conditions, but the 1,4‐adduct was obtained in 70 % yield and with 94 % ee when more electron‐deficient phenyl crotonate was used as the substrate.     

Reactive intermediates in peptide synthesis. ortho‐Nitrophenyl Nα‐para‐toluenesulfonyl‐α‐aminoisobutyrate

The preparation, characterization, and molecular and crystal structures of the title compound [IUPAC name: 2‐nitro­phenyl 2‐methyl‐2‐(para‐toluene­sulfonyl­amino)­propanoate], C₁₇H₁₈­N₂O₆S, are reported. The phenyl group is almost perpendicular to the plane of the adjacent ester moiety. One O atom of the nitro group is wedged between the two ester O atoms. The implications of this peculiar conformation for the chemistry of ortho‐nitro­phenyl esters in peptide synthesis are discussed.     

Conformation of N‐methyl‐4‐piperidyl 2,4‐dinitrobenzoate

The crystal structure of N‐methyl‐4‐piperidyl 2,4‐di­nitro­benzoate, C₁₃H₁₅N₃O₆, (I), at 130 (2) K reveals that, in the solid state, the mol­ecule exists in the equatorial conformation, (Ieq). Thus, the through‐bond interaction present in the axial conformation, (Iax), is not strong enough to overcome the syn–diaxial interactions between the axial methyl substituent and the axial H atoms on the two piperidyl ring C atoms either side of the ester‐linked ring C atom. The carboxyl­ate group in (I) is orthogonal to the aromatic ring, in contrast with other 2,4‐di­nitro­benzoates, which are coplanar. The piperidyl–ester C—O bond distance is 1.467 (3) Å, which is actually shorter than other equatorial cyclo­hexyl–ester C—O distances. This shorter piperidyl–ester C—O bond distance is due to the reduced electron demand of the orthogonal ester group.     

Reactions of 3‐methylamino‐5‐phenylthiophene with α,β‐unsaturated esters and α,β‐unsaturated nitriles

Treatment of 3‐methylamino‐5‐phenylthiophene with α,β‐unsaturated esters, i.e., methyl acrylate, (E)‐methyl crotonate, diethyl fumarate, diethyl maleate and ethyl propiolate, in tetrahydrofuran for several days at reflux gave 1‐methyl‐3,4‐dihydrothieno[2,3‐e]pyridin‐2‐ones 4 and/or 1‐methylthieno[2,3‐e]pyridin‐2‐ones 5 , depending on the structure of the esters. On the other hand, the same reactions with α,β‐unsaturated nitriles such as acrylonitrile and tetracyanoethene, gave the corresponding thiophenes 7 and 10 bearing 2‐cyanoethyl and 1,2,2‐tricyanoethenyl groups at C‐2, respectively. The reaction with (Z)‐1,2‐dicyanoethene under the same conditions produced the corresponding thiophene 9 bearing the 1,2‐dicyanoethenyl group and 1,2‐dicyano‐5‐methylaminobiphenyl.     

Unexpected reactions associated with the xanthate‐mediated polymerization of N‐vinylpyrrolidone

The monomer N‐vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) undergoes side reactions in the presence of R group functional xanthates and impurities. The fate of the monomer NVP and a selection of six O‐ethyl xanthates during xanthate‐mediated polymerization were studied via NMR spectroscopy. A high number of by‐products were identified. Significant side reactions affecting NVP include the formation of an unsaturated dimer and hydration products in bulk or in solution in C₆D₆. In addition, the xanthate adjacent to a NVP unit was found to undergo elimination at moderate temperature (60–70 °C), resulting in unsaturated species and the formation of new xanthate species. The presence of the chlorinated compound α‐chlorophenyl acetic acid, ethyl ester, a precursor in the synthesis of the xanthate S‐(2‐ethyl phenylacetate) O‐ethyl xanthate, resulted in a dramatic increase in the rate of side reactions such as unsaturated dimer formation and a high ratio of unsaturated chain ends. The conditions for the occurrence of such side reactions are discussed in this article, with relevance to increasing the control over the polymerization kinetics, endgroup functionality, and control over the molar mass distribution. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6575–6593, 2008     

Charge Transport through Self‐Assembled Monolayers of Monoterpenoids

The nature of the processes at the origin of life that selected specific classes of molecules for broad incorporation into cells is controversial. Among those classes selected were polyisoprenoids and their derivatives. This paper tests the hypothesis that polyisoprenoids were early contributors to membranes in part because they (or their derivatives) could facilitate charge transport by quantum tunneling. It measures charge transport across self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) of carboxyl‐terminated monoterpenoids (O₂C(C₉HX)) and alkanoates (O₂C(C₇HX)) with different degrees of unsaturation, supported on silver (Ag^TS) bottom electrodes, with Ga₂O₃/EGaIn top electrodes. Measurements of current density of SAMs of linear length‐matched hydrocarbons—both saturated and unsaturated—show that completely unsaturated molecules transport charge faster than those that are completely saturated by approximately a factor of ten. This increase in relative rates of charge transport correlates with the number of carbon–carbon double bonds, but not with the extent of conjugation. These results suggest that polyisoprenoids—even fully unsaturated—are not sufficiently good tunneling conductors for their conductivity to have favored them as building blocks in the prebiotic world.     

DPPH (= 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl = 2,2‐Diphenyl‐1‐(2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl)hydrazyl) Radical‐Scavenging Reaction of Protocatechuic Acid Esters (= 3,4‐Dihydroxybenzoates) in Alcohols: Formation of Bis‐alcohol Adduct

Protocatechuic acid esters (= 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoates) scavenge ca. 5 equiv. of radical in alcoholic solvents, whereas they consume only 2 equiv. of radical in nonalcoholic solvents. While the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents as compared to that in nonalcoholic solvents is due to a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule at C(2) of an intermediate o‐quinone structure, thus regenerating a catechol (= benzene‐1,2‐diol) structure, it is still unclear why protocatechuic acid esters scavenge more than 4 equiv. of radical (C(2) refers to the protocatechuic acid numbering). Therefore, to elucidate the oxidation mechanism beyond the formation of the C(2) alcohol adduct, 3,4‐dihydroxy‐2‐methoxybenzoic acid methyl ester ( 4 ), the C(2) MeOH adduct, which is an oxidation product of methyl protocatechuate ( 1 ) in MeOH, was oxidized by the DPPH radical (= 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) or o‐chloranil (= 3,4,5,6‐tetrachlorocyclohexa‐3,5‐diene‐1,2‐dione) in CD₃OD/(D₆)acetone 3 : 1). The oxidation mixtures were directly analyzed by NMR. Oxidation with both the DPPH radical and o‐chloranil produced a C(2),C(6) bis‐methanol adduct ( 7 ), which could scavenge additional 2 equiv. of radical. Calculations of LUMO electron densities of o‐quinones corroborated the regioselective nucleophilic addition of alcohol molecules with o‐quinones. Our results strongly suggest that the regeneration of a catechol structure via a nucleophilic addition of an alcohol molecule with a o‐quinone is a key reaction for the high radical‐scavenging activity of protocatechuic acid esters in alcoholic solvents.     

Sulfur as hydrogen‐bond acceptor in cocrystals of 2‐thio‐modified thymine

Doubly and triply hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular synthons are of particular interest for the rational design of crystal and cocrystal structures in crystal engineering since they show a high robustness due to their high stability and good reliability. The compound 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil (2‐thiothymine) contains an ADA hydrogen‐bonding site (A = acceptor and D = donor) if the S atom is considered as an acceptor. We report herein the results of cocrystallization experiments with the coformers 2,4‐diaminopyrimidine, 2,4‐diamino‐6‐phenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine, 6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine and melamine, which contain complementary DAD hydrogen‐bonding sites and, therefore, should be capable of forming a mixed ADA–DAD N—H…S/N—H…N/N—H…O synthon (denoted synthon 3s_{N·S;N·N;N·O}), consisting of three different hydrogen bonds with 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil. The experiments yielded one cocrystal and five solvated cocrystals, namely 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine (1/2), C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₄H₆N₄, (I), 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diaminopyrimidine–N,N‐dimethylformamide (2/2/1), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₄H₆N₄·C₃H₇NO, (II), 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–2,4‐diamino‐6‐phenyl‐1,3,5‐triazine–N,N‐dimethylformamide (2/2/1), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₉H₉N₅·C₃H₇NO, (III), 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine–N,N‐dimethylformamide (2/2/1), (IV), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₄H₆N₄O·C₃H₇NO, (IV), 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–6‐amino‐3H‐isocytosine–N,N‐dimethylacetamide (2/2/1), 2C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₄H₆N₄O·C₄H₉NO, (V), and 5‐methyl‐2‐thiouracil–melamine (3/2), 3C₅H₆N₂OS·2C₃H₆N₆, (VI). Synthon 3s_{N·S;N·N;N·O} was formed in three structures in which two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded networks are observed, while doubly hydrogen‐bonded interactions were formed instead in the remaining three cocrystals whereby three‐dimensional networks are preferred. As desired, the S atoms are involved in hydrogen‐bonding interactions in all six structures, thus illustrating the ability of sulfur to act as a hydrogen‐bond acceptor and, therefore, its value for application in crystal engineering.     

Synthesis of Methyl (20R,22E)‐ and (20S,22E)‐3‐Oxochola‐1,4,22‐ trien‐24‐oate

Methyl (22E)‐3‐oxochola‐1,4,22‐trien‐24‐oate ( 4 ; C₂₅H₃₄O₃) is a naturally occurring steroid with unknown configuration at C(20). Starting from the (20S)‐3‐oxo‐23,24‐dinorchol‐4‐en‐22‐al ( 1a ), we prepared both diastereoisomeric methyl esters 4a and 4b by a three‐step procedure (Scheme). In the case of 4b , the initial epimerization of aldehyde 1a was followed by completion of the sequence and then separation via fractional crystallization to afford pure (20R)‐methyl ester 4a and its (20S)‐diastereomer 4b . Only the analytical data of the (20S)‐compound 4b were in good agreement with those reported for the natural product.     

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 .