Molecular mechanics calculations of 10-vertex boron cage compounds

The model proposed earlier for molecular mechanics calculations of 7- and 12-vertex boranes, carboranes, and metallocarboranes has been extended to the case of 10-vertex borane cage compounds. To use the MM3 program with the standard connectivity file, and to avoid program alterations, the 10-vertex cages of the molecules were presented as a superposition of four formally independent fragments. Interactions between the fragments were described with a Hill-like potential, with the parameters adjusted for valence interactions. Standard values for the bond lengths and bond angles in the 10-vertex boron cage have been found by statistical analysis of X-ray data on borane cage compounds stored in the Cambridge Structural Database. Several substituted neutral molecules and anions have been considered, and good agreement of the calculated and experimental data has been obtained. Using the approach developed, the unknown structure of the [mu-B20H16O(CH2)4O(CH2)2CH(CH3)2]3- ion has been calculated.     

The electronic structure of the boron hydrides

The expansion of topological basis functions for tetrahedral and octahedral boron cage molecules in terms of an explicit atomic orbital basis is considered. A maximum localisation criteria is used to define mixing coefficients. The overlap between face basis functions in the two geometries is 0.79 and only a very crude parameter transferability exists. However, some aspects of the relative molecular orbital energy levels generated with a topological basis appear to be an improvement on those using an atomic orbital basis.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Entwicklung topologischer Basisfunktionen nach einer expliziten Basis von Atomorbitalen für käfigförmige, tetraedrische und oktaedrische Moleküle, die Boratome enthalten, wird untersucht. Ein Kriterium maximaler Lokalisierung wird zur Bestimmung der Mischungskoeffizienten verwendet. Die Überlappung zwischen den Basisfunktionen, die zu den Seiten der beiden Geometrien gehören, beträgt 0,79, und es existiert nur eine ungefähre Übertragbarkeit der Parameter. Einige Aspekte der relativen MO-Energiewerte, die mit einer topologischen Basis gewonnen wurden, stellen eine Verbesserung gegenüber der Verwendung einer Atomorbitalbasis dar.

---

Résumé Développement des fonctions de base topologiques en termes d'une base explicite d'orbitales atomiques pour des molécules cages de bore tétraédrique et octaédrique. Un critère de localisation maximum est utilisé pour définir les coefficients de mélange. Le recouvrement entre les fonctions de base faciales dans les deux geometries est de 0.79 et la transférabilité des paramètres n'est que très grossière. Cependant, certains aspects relatifs des niveaux d'énergie des orbitales moléculaires engendrées avec une base topologique apparaissent plus satisfaisants que ceux obtenus avec une base d'orbitales atomiques.

     

The electronic structure of the boron hydrides

In parts I and II of this series [1] it has been demonstrated that localized three centre and two centre bonds may be used as basic functions for molecular orbital calculations on closed (cage) and open (basket) boron polyhedral molecules. In the present paper it is shown that the face and edge matrices of this theory are related to incidal and 1 and 2 simplexial matrices in the same way that Hückel matrices in the theory of unsaturated hydrocarbons are related to incidal matrices and 0 and 1 simplexial matrices. The theory is thus a topologically-correct extension of Hückel theory to three dimensions.

---

Zusammenfassung In Teil I und II dieser Serie [1] wurde demonstriert, da\ lokalisierte Dreizentren- und Zweizentren-Bindungen als Basisfunktionen für MO-Rechnungen bei geschlossenen (KÄfig) und offenen (Korb) polyhedralen Borwasserstoff-Molekülen benutzt werden können. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird gezeigt, da\ die OberflÄchen- und Randmatrizen dieser Theorie mit Incidal- sowie 1- und 2-Simplexmatrizen verwandt sind, in derselben Art wie die Hückel-Matrizen in der Theorie der ungesÄttigten Kohlenwasserstoffe mit Incidal-Matrizen sowie 0- und 1-Simplexmatrizen in Beziehung stehen. Die Theorie ist somit eine topologisch korrekte Erweiterung der Hückel-Theorie auf drei Dimensionen.

---

Résumé Dans les parties I et II de cette suite d'articles on a démontré que des liaisons localisées à trois et à deux centres peuvent Être employées comme fonctions de base pour des calculs d'orbitales moléculaires sur des molécules polyhédriques boriques fermées («cage») et ouvertes («panier»). Dans cet article on montre que les matrices «faces» et «arÊtes» de cette théorie sont liées aux matrices d'incidence et aux matrices Simplexes 1 et 2 de la mÊme manière que dans la théorie de Hückel la matrice hamiltonienne est reliée aux matrices d'incidence et simplexes 0 et 1. La théorie est donc une extension à trois dimensions, correcte du point de vue topologique, de la méthode de Hückel.

     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(aminoborane) as a new boron nitride precursor

During the solution reaction of NaBH₄/(NH₄)₂SO₄ in tetraglyme to form borazine, polymeric aminoborane (NH₂BH₂)_x has been isolated as a white powder. The powder was characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, infrared and mass spectroscopies, and powder X‐ray diffraction. Solid‐state ¹⁵N and ¹¹B nuclear magnetic resonance firmly proved that the chain‐like poly(aminoborane) evolved a partially condensed B₃N₃ ring structure by dehydrogenative condensation between chains at 200 °C. Pyrolysis of the polymer in a nitrogen stream up to 1400 °C led to a 75% yield of hexagonal boron nitride with an interlayer spacing of 3.37 Å. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis and characterization of a p-type boron arsenide photoelectrode

A p-type boron arsenide photoelectrode was prepared from a material consisting of a thin layer of boron arsenide on a boron substrate. The structure of the material was identified using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and the surface composition was determined by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrode was found to be photoactive under both visible light and UV-vis irradiation and displayed a photocurrent of ~0.1 mA/cm(2) under UV-vis irradiation at an applied potential of -0.25 V vs Ag/AgCl. Mott-Schottky plots for this boron arsenide electrode displayed an estimated flat-band potential near the onset photopotential. The estimated indirect band gap, as determined from incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency plots, is 1.46 ± 0.02 eV.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of 13-vertex carboranes and 14-vertex metallacarboranes

Syntheses, properties, and synthetic applications of 13-vertex closo- and nido-carboranes are reported. Reactions of the nido-carborane salt [(CH2)3C2B10H10]Na2 with dihaloborane reagents afforded 13-vertex closo-carboranes 1,2-(CH2)3-3-R-1,2-C2B11H10 (R = H (2), Ph (3), Z-EtCH=C(Et) (4), E-(t)BuCH=CH (5)). Treatment of the arachno-carborane salt [(CH2)3C2B10H10]Li4 with HBBr2.SMe2 gave both the 13-vertex carborane 2 and a 14-vertex closo-carborane (CH2)3C2B12H12 (8). On the other hand, the reaction of [C6H4(CH2)2C2B10H10]Li4 with HBBr2.SMe2 generated only a 13-vertex closo-carborane 1,2-C6H4(CH2)2-1,2-C2B11H11 (9). Electrophilic substitution reactions of 2 with excess MeI, Br2, or I2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of AlCl3 produced the hexa-substituted 13-vertex carboranes 8,9,10,11,12,13-X6-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H5 (X = Me (10), Br (11), I (12)). The halogenated products 11 and 12 displayed unexpected instability toward moisture. The 13-vertex closo-carboranes were readily reduced by groups 1 and 2 metals. Accordingly, several 13-vertex nido-carborane dianionic salts [nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][Li2(DME)2(THF)2] (13), [[nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][Na2(THF)4]]n (13a), [[nido-1,2-(CH2)3-3-Ph-1,2-C2B11H10][Na2(THF)4]]n (14), [[nido-1,2-C6H4(CH2)2-1,2-C2B11H11][Na2(THF)4]]n (15), and [nido-1,2-(CH2)3-1,2-C2B11H11][M(THF)5] (M = Mg (16), Ca (17)) were prepared in good yields. These carbon-atom-adjacent nido-carboranes were not further reduced to the corresponding arachno species by lithium metal. On the other hand, like other nido-carborane dianions, they were useful synthons for the production of super-carboranes and supra-icosahedral metallacarboranes. Interactions of 13a with HBBr2.SMe2, (dppe)NiCl2, and (dppen)NiCl2 gave the 14-vertex carborane 8 and nickelacarboranes [eta5-(CH2)3C2B11H11]Ni(dppe) (18) and [eta5-(CH2)3C2B11H11]Ni(dppen) (19), respectively. All complexes were fully characterized by various spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. Some were further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies.     

Ab initio and electron propagator theory study of boron hydrides

Boron hydrides (BH3, B2H6, B3H7, B4H10, B5H9, and B5H11) and their cations are studied by the coupled cluster CCSD(T) theory, the second-order Mller-Plesset (MP2) perturbation method, and the electron propagator theory in the partial third-order quasi-particle approximation, using the 6-311G(d,p) basis set. The vertical ionization potential energies are calculated, indicating an excellent agreement with the experimental data from photoelectron spectroscopy. Assignments to the experimental spectra are made on the basis of the present computational analyses. A significant Jahn-Teller effect on BH3+ leads to two states, 2A1 and 2B2, with the split energy of 0.14 eV. The triple and double B-H-B bridges are formed in B2H6+ and b-B3H7+, respectively. A new B-H-B bridge is formed while two B-B bonds are broken in B5H11+. The Jahn-Teller effect lowers the symmetry of B5H9 (C4v) to B5H9+ (C2) but slightly influences the structure of ara-B4H10 (C2v). The calculated properties of geometries, vibrational frequencies, and energies are compared with the experimental data available in the literatures.     

Modern aspects of the chemistry of complex boron and aluminum hydrides

The review deals with new methods of synthesis of complex tetrahydroborates and tetrahydroaluminates and their coordination compounds, initial reagents for synthesis of borides, catalyst precursors, and materials for hydrogen economy.     

Cyclic oxonium derivatives of polyhedral boron hydrides and their synthetic applications

Cyclic oxonium derivatives of polyhedral boron hydrides are a relatively new class of boron compounds. They have great potential for the modification of various types of organic and bioorganic molecules and the synthesis of compounds that could be used in different fields from the treatment of nuclear wastes to the treatment of cancer. In the present Perspective we would like to present an overview of the results of the preparation and synthetic application of these compounds.     

Ab initio studies on the electronic structure and properties of aluminum hydrides that are analogues of boron hydrides

Although the boron hydrides are well-known in the literature, the aluminum hydride chemistry is limited to very few systems such as AlH(3), its dimer, and its polymeric form. In view of the recent experimental studies on the possible existence of the aluminum hydrides, herein, we have undertaken a systematic study on the electronic structure and properties of these aluminum hydrides. Under this, we have studied different classes of hydrides, viz., closo (Al(n)H(n+2)), nido (Al(n)H(n+4)), and arachno (Al(n)H(n+6)), similar to the boranes. All the aluminum hydrides are found to have exceptionally large highest-occupied molecular orbital-lowest-unoccupied molecular orbital gaps, low electron affinities, large ionization potentials and also large enthalpy and free energy of atomization. In addition, most of the structures are also found to have high symmetries. These exceptional properties can be indicative of the pronounced stability, and hence, it is expected that other aluminum hydride complexes can indeed be observed experimentally.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of a terminal hydroxide containing alumoxane via hydrolysis of aluminum hydrides

A novel terminal hydroxide containing dinuclear alumoxane LAl(OH)OAlL(OCH=N-tBu) (3; L = HC(CMeNAr)2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) was prepared by treatment of aluminum dihydride LAlH2 (1) and tert-butyl isocyanate in the presence of trace amounts of water and alternatively from 1 and LAlH(OCH=N-tBu) (2) with water. Compound 2 was obtained from the reaction of 1 and tert-butyl isocyanate.     

Synthesis and properties of crystalline fullerene hydrides

The interaction of crystalline fullerence C₆₀ with highly pure hydrogen, which was evolved from hydrides of intermetallic compounds of rear-earth metals and nickel, was studied. Crystalline fullerene hydrides containing from 10 to 30 hydrogen atoms per fullerene molecule were synthesized (1.0–2.5 MPa and 300–673 K). Crystalline hydrides release hydrogen at 800 K with retention of the structure of the fullerene molecule. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2093–2096, October, 1998.     

Synthesis and characterization of azanonaborane-containing purine derivatives for boron neutron capture therapy

Derivatives of purine, adenine, guanine, and 2,6-diaminopurine linked to the azanonaborane (B₈N cluster) have been prepared, for possible use as powerful agents for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). The synthesis was carried out via a ligand exchange reaction. The exo-NH₂R group of the azanonaborane of the type [(RH₂N)B₈H₁₁NHR] can be exchanged by one hetero-nitrogen atom of the pyrimidine ring, and except for guanine, also by an N atom of the imidazole ring. The identity of the products was confirmed by NMR, elemental analysis, IR, and mass spectrometry. No reaction was found to occur with caffeine and theophylline under the same reaction conditions.      

硼烷结构规则的Xα方法研究

本文对B6H6^2^-,B7H7^2^-,B5H9,B6H10,B4H10,B5H11及其相应的硼骨架作了Xα.计算.讨论了硼烷的结构规则,Watson球对能级的影响以及电子占有数对成键轨道的影响等.