Negatively Charged Metallacarborane Redox Couples with Both Members Stable to Air

The metallacarborane [3,3′‐Co(1,2‐closo‐C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]^? has been synthesized. This species allows the formation of redox couples in which both partners are negatively charged. The E_1/2 potential can be tuned by adjusting the nature and number of substituents on B and C. The octaiodinated species [3,3′‐Co(1,2‐closo‐C₂B₉H₇I₄)₂]^? is the most favorable, as it is isolatable and stable in air. A DFT study on stability and redox potentials of complexes has been performed.     

Formation of “three-bridge” cobalt-copper commo-cluster with the (B-H)3...Cu bond in the reaction of [Cs][commo-3,3′-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2] with copper(i) and copper(ii) compounds

Zwitterionic 4,8,8′-exo-{Ph₃PCu}-4,8,8′-(μ-H)₃-commo-3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₉)-(1′,2′-C₂B₉H₁₀) and ionic [(PPh₃)₃Cu][commo-3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂ complexes were synthesized in moderate yields by the reaction of anionic commo-complex [Cs][commo-3,3′-Co-(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]) in a CH₂Cl₂ solution with anhydrous CuCl₂ or CuCl in the presence of PPh₃. The complexes were also synthesized by alternative methods and characterized by NMR and X-ray diffraction methods.     

The exopolyhedral ligand orientation (ELO) in 3‐(nitrato‐κO)‐3,3‐bis(triphenylphosphane‐κP)‐3‐rhoda‐1,2‐dicarba‐closo‐dodecaborane(11) dichloromethane 2.2‐solvate

In the title compound, [Rh(C₂H₁₁B₉)(NO₃)(C₁₈H₁₅P)₂]·2.2CH₂Cl₂, studied as a 2.2‐solvate of what was assumed to be dichloromethane, the nitrate ligand lies cis with respect to both cage C atoms. Accordingly, the compound displays a pronounced preferred exopolyhedral ligand orientation (ELO) which is traced to both the greater trans influence of the cage B over the cage C atoms and the greater trans influence of the triphenylphosphane ligands over the nitrate ligand. The overall molecular architecture therefore agrees with that of a number of similar 3‐L‐3,3‐L′₂‐3,1,2‐closo‐MC₂B₉H₁₁ species in the literature.     

Limitations of low resolution mass spectrometry in the electron capture negative ionization mode for the analysis of short- and medium-chain chlorinated paraffins

The analysis of complex mixtures of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) with short (SCCPs, C₁₀–C₁₃) and medium (MCCPs, C₁₄–C₁₇) chain lengths can be disturbed by mass overlap, if low resolution mass spectrometry (LRMS) in the electron capture negative ionization mode is employed. This is caused by CP congeners with the same nominal mass, but with five carbon atoms more and two chlorine atoms less; for example C₁₁H₁₇³⁷Cl³⁵Cl₆ (m/z 395.9) and C₁₆H₂₉³⁵Cl₅ (m/z 396.1). This can lead to an overestimation of congener group quantity and/or of total CP concentration. The magnitude of this interference was studied by evaluating the change after mixing a SCCP standard and a MCCP standard 1+1 (S+MCCP mixture) and comparing it to the single standards. A quantification of the less abundant C₁₆ and C₁₇ congeners present in the MCCP standard was not possible due to interference from the major C₁₁ and C₁₂ congeners in the SCCPs. Also, signals for SCCPs (C₁₀–C₁₂) with nine and ten chlorine atoms were mimicked by MCCPs (C₁₅–C₁₇) with seven and eight chlorine atoms (for instance C₁₀H₁₂Cl₁₀ by C₁₅H₂₄Cl₈). A similar observation was made for signals from C₁₅–C₁₇ CPs with four and five chlorine atoms resulting from SCCPs (C₁₀–C₁₂) with six and seven chlorine atoms (such as C₁₅H₂₈Cl₄ by C₁₀H₁₆Cl₆) in the S+MCCP mixture. It could be shown that the quantification of the most abundant congeners (C₁₁–C₁₄) is not affected by any interference. The determination of C₁₀ and C₁₅ congeners is partly disturbed, but this can be detected by investigating isotope ratios, retention time ranges and the shapes of the CP signals. Also, lower chlorinated compounds forming [M+Cl]^– as the most abundant ion instead of [M-Cl]^– are especially sensitive to systematic errors caused by superposition of ions of different composition and the same nominal mass.     

Carborane Substituents Promote Direct Electrophilic Insertion over Reduction–Metalation Reactions

Two‐electron reduction of 1,1′‐bis(o‐carborane) followed by reaction with [Ru(η‐mes)Cl₂]₂ affords [8‐(1′‐1′,2′‐closo‐C₂B₁₀H₁₁)‐4‐(η‐mes)‐4,1,8‐closo‐RuC₂B₁₀H₁₁]. Subsequent two‐electron reduction of this species and treatment with [Ru(η‐arene)Cl₂]₂ results in the 14‐vertex/12‐vertex species [1‐(η‐mes)‐9‐(1′‐1′,2′‐closo‐C₂B₁₀H₁₁)‐13‐(η‐arene)‐1,13,2,9‐closo‐Ru₂C₂B₁₀H₁₁] by direct electrophilic insertion, promoted by the carborane substituent in the 13‐vertex/12‐vertex precursor. When arene=mesitylene (mes), the diruthenium species is fluxional in solution at room temperature in a process that makes the metal–ligand fragments equivalent. A unique mechanism for this fluxionality is proposed and is shown to be fully consistent with the observed fluxionality or nonfluxionality of a series of previously reported 14‐vertex dicobaltacarboranes.     

Crystal structure of [MnII (1,10-C12H8N2)3]2+[(B9C2H11)CoIII(B8C2H10)CoIII(B9C2H11)]2?·CH3CN

A novel compound, [MnPhen₃][(B₉C₂H₁₁)Co(B₈C₂H₁₀)Co(B₉C₂H₁₁)]· CH₃CN (Phen = 1,10-phenantroline), comprising a Co(III) dicobaltacarborane cluster anion has been prepared and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Crystal data are the following: C₄₄H₅₉B₂₆N₇Co₂Mn, M = 1139.84, triclinic, space group , unit cell parameters: a = 13.2465(11) Å, b = 14.521(2) Å, c = 15.2536(15) Å; α = 77.027(9)°, β = 88.500(8)°, γ = 77.274(9)°; V = 2788.5(5) ų, Z = 2, d _calc = 1.358 g/cm³, T = 295 K, F(000) = 1162, μ = 0.853 mm⁻¹. The structure was solved by the direct and Fourier methods and refined anisotropically (isotropically for hydrogen atoms) using the full-matrix technique to final factors R ₁ = 0.0374, wR ₂ = 0.0915 for 7397 I _hkl ≥2σ_I of 9779 I _hkl measured (diffractometer Enraf-Nonius CAD-4, λMoK _α , graphite monochromator, θ/2θ-scanning). The structure is formed from [MnPhen₃]²⁺ cations, [(B₉C₂H₁₁)×Co(B₈C₂H₁₀)Co(B₉C₂H₁₁)]₂₋ anions, and acetonitrile molecules CH₃CN. Central Mn atom in the cation has a distorted octahedral coordination environment formed by six nitrogen atoms of three bi-dentate Phen ligands, average Mn-N bond length being 2.263(2) Å. The anion has a chain-like structure built from three icosahedra sharing common vertices occupied by the cobalt atoms. The central icosahedron including ten light atoms (8B, 2C) provides two vertices for the cobalt atoms shared with the other icosahedra having 11 light atoms (9B, 2C). The arrangement of-C₂-groups in the anion corresponds to a quasi-gauche-configuration of asymmetric sandwich complexes of both cobalt atoms. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2005 by T. M. Polyanskaya, V. V. Volkov, and M. K. Drozdova __________ Translated from Zhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 46, No. 4, pp.730–740, July–August, 2005.     

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.     

The closo-Cluster Triad: B9X9, [B9X9]· –, and [B9X9]2– with Tricapped Trigonal Prisms (X = Cl,Br, I). Syntheses,Crystal and Electronic Structures

Halogenation of nido-B₁₀H₁₄ with C₂H₂Cl₄, C₂Cl₆, Br₂, or I₂, produces by cluster degradation the (2 n)-closo-clusters B₉X₉ (X = Cl, Br, I). The synthesis of salts of the perhalogenated radical anions of the type (2 n + 1)-closo-[B₉X₉]^{· –} and of the corresponding dianions (2 n + 2)-closo-[B₉X₉]^2– from neutral B₉X₉ is described [n is the number of cluster atoms; (2 n), (2 n + 1), and (2 n + 2) is the number of cluster electrons]. Molecular and crystal structures of B₉Cl₉, B₉Br₉, [(C₆H₅)₄P][B₉Br₉] · CH₂Cl₂, and [(C₄H₉)₄N]₂[B₉Br₉] · CH₂Cl₂ have been determined via X-ray diffraction. All three oxidation states of the cluster retain the tricapped trigonal prism. The reduction of the clusters B₉X₉ was shown by cyclic voltammetry in CH₂Cl₂ to proceed via two successive one-electron reversible steps, separated by at least 0.4 V. The paramagnetic radical anions [B₉X₉]^{· –} (X = Cl, Br) were further characterized by magnetic susceptibility measurements of [Cp₂Fe][B₉X₉] and [Cp₂Co][B₉X₉], respectively. The EPR spectra of [B₉X₉]^{· –} (X = Cl, Br, I) in glassy frozen CH₂Cl₂ solutions showed increasing g anisotropy for the heavier halogen derivatives, illustrating significant halogen participation at the singly occupied MO. The ¹¹B NMR spectra of CD₂Cl₂ solutions of the neutral clusters B₉X₉ exhibit only one sharp resonance, indicating that the boron atoms are highly fluxional in solution. In contrast, two different boron resonances as expected for a rigid tricapped trigonal prism are clearly observed for the [B₉X₉]^2– dianions in solutions and for solid B₉Br₉ in the ¹¹B MAS NMR spectra. Temperature dependent ¹¹B MAS NMR experiments on B₉Br₉ and [B₉Br₉]^2– in the solid state show a reversible coalescence of the two resonances at higher temperature. ¹¹B MAS NMR spectra and DTA measurements of [B₉Br₉]^2– showed a phase transition.     

Synthesis of Globular Precursors

o‐Carborane (C₂B₁₀H₁₂) was adapted to perform as the core of globular macromolecules, dendrons or dendrimers. To meet this objective, precisely defined substitution patterns of terminal olefin groups on the carborane framework were subjected to Heck cross‐coupling reactions or hydroboration leading to hydroxyl terminated arms. These led to new terminal groups (chloro, bromo, and tosyl leaving groups, organic acid, and azide) that permitted ester production, click chemistry, and oxonium ring opening to be performed as examples of reactions that demonstrate the wide possibilities of the globular icosahedral carboranes to produce new dendritic or dendrimer‐like structures. Polyanionic species were obtained in high yield through the ring‐opening reaction of cyclic oxonium compound [3,3′‐Co(8‐C₄H₈O₂‐1,2‐C₂B₉H₁₀)(1′,2′‐C₂B₉H₁₁)] by using terminal hydroxyl groups as nucleophiles. These new polyanionic compounds that contain multiple metallacarborane clusters at their periphery may prove useful as new classes of compounds for boron neutron capture therapy with enhanced water solubility and as cores to make a new class of high‐boron globular macromolecules.     

Red and yellow solvates of chloro­(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine)platinum(II) chloride and Pt⋯Pt inter­actions

Crystallization of chloro­(2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine)platinum(II) chloride from dimethyl sulfoxide yields a red polymorph, [PtCl(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)]Cl·C₂H₆OS, (I), which exhibits stacking along the a axis through pairs of Pt⋯Pt(−x, −y, −z) inter­actions of 3.3155 (8) Å. The cations are further associated through close Pt⋯Pt(1 − x, −y, −z) distances of 3.4360 (8) Å. Recrystallization from water gives a mero­hedrally twinned yellow–orange dihydrate form, [PtCl(C₁₅H₁₁N₃)]Cl·2H₂O, (II), with pairwise short Pt⋯Pt(1 − x, 2 − y, −z) contacts of 3.3903 (5) Å but no long‐range stacking through the crystals. Inter­pair Pt⋯Pt(−x, 2 − y, −z) distances between cation pairs in the hydrate are 4.3269 (5) Å.     

Raman study of the structure of cobaltacarborane complexes containing dicarbollide and dicarbacanastide ligands

A series of cobaltacarborane complexes including Cs[(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂Co], Cs[(8,9,12-Br₃-C₂B₉H₈)₂Co], Cs[(8-I-C₂B₉H₁₀)₂Co], and polynuclear chain cobaltacarborane complexes of the general formula Cs_n[(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂Co_n(1,2-C₂B₈H₁₀)_n-1], where n=2,3,4,5,6,7, were studied by Raman spectroscopy. In the Raman spectra of these complexes, the frequencies and intensities of the bands of the ligand-metal-ligand totally symmetric stretching vibrations are characteristic; therefore, these data may be used as analytical characteristics. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences. Translated fromZhurnal Strukturnoi Khimii, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp. 716–720, July–August, 1996. Translated by L. Smolina     

Fluorosubstituted rhodacarboranes 3,4-(R3P)2-3-H-3,1,2-RhC2B9H11−n F n (n=1, 2, 4): Synthesis, molecular structure, and catalytic properties in hydrosilylation of styrene and phenylacetylene

Hydridorhodacarboranes 3,3-(Ph₂RP)₂-3-H-3,1,2-RhC₂B₉H_11−n F _n (R=Ph, Me;n=1, 2, 4) containing F atoms at the B atoms of the π-carborane ligand were synthesized from (Ph₃P)₃RhCl or (Ph₂MeP)₃RhCl andnido-7,8-C₂B₉H_12−n F _n ⁻ (n=1, 2, 4) salts. Hydridorhodacarboranes 3,3-(Ph₂MeP)₂-3-H-3,1,2-RhC₂B₉H_11−n F _n readily exchange the H atom at the Rh atom for the Cl atom under the action of CH₂Cl₂ to give 3,3-(Ph₂MeP)₂-3-Cl-3,1,2-RhC₂B₉H_11−n F _n . The structures of the 3,3-(Ph₃P)₂-3-H-3,1,2-RhC₂B₉H₇F₄ and 3,3-(Ph₂MeP)₂-3-Cl-3,1,2-RhC₂B₉H₉F₂ complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Catalytic properties of the rhodacarbonanes obtained in hydrosilylation of styrene and phenylacetylene by PhMe₂SiH were studied. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 570–578, March, 1997.     

Studies of the substituent effect in aromatic systems by 35 Cl-NQR. Chloroacetanilides ClxC6H5−x NHCOCH3−y Cly

The ³⁵Cl-NQR spectra of 45 chlorosubsitituted acetanilides, Cl_xC₆H_5?xNHCOCH_3?yCl_y, were investigated and the temperature dependence of some spectra, especially of monochloroacetic acid derivatives, was measured. A preliminary assignment of the NQR frequencies is given. A correlation between NQR frequencies and substituent parameters permits the study of the substituent effect of the acetamido group, ? NHCOCH_3?yCl_y. The chloro-substitution in the side chain of the acetanilides seems to have no noticeable influence on the ³⁵Cl-NQR frequencies of the chlorine atoms at the benzene ring. The NQR frequencies of the chlorine atoms in the chloroacetamido group are, on the other hand, insensitive to substitutions at the benzene nucleus. The possibility of steric influences on the NQR spectrum of ortho-chloro-substituted acetanilides is discussed. The investigation further confirms that a crystal field effect of about ±500 kHz must be considered in the interpretation of NQR spectra of chlorobenzene derivatives.     

Reversibly Switchable Fluorescent Molecular Systems Based on Metallacarborane–Perylenediimide Conjugates

Icosahedral metallacarboranes are θ-shaped anionic molecules in which two icosahedra share one vertex that is a metal center. The most remarkable of these compounds is the anionic cobalt-based metallacarborane [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻, whose oxidation-reduction processes occur via an outer sphere electron process. This, along with its low density negative charge, makes [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ very appealing to participate in electron-transfer processes. In this work, [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ is tethered to a perylenediimide dye to produce the first examples of switchable luminescent molecules and materials based on metallacarboranes. In particular, the electronic communication of [Co(C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ with the appended chromophore unit in these compounds can be regulated upon application of redox stimuli, which allows the reversible modulation of the emitted fluorescence. As such, they behave as electrochemically-controlled fluorescent molecular switches in solution, which surpass the performance of previous systems based on conjugates of perylendiimides with ferrocene. Remarkably, they can form gels by treatment with appropriate mixtures of organic solvents, which result from the self-assembly of the cobaltabisdicarbollide-perylendiimide conjugates into 1D nanostructures. The interplay between dye π-stacking and metallacarborane electronic and steric interactions ultimately governs the supramolecular arrangement in these materials, which for one of the compounds prepared allows preserving the luminescent behavior in the gel state.     

Effect of an alkyl substituted in salen ligands on 1,4‐Cis selectivity and molecular weight control in the polymerization of 1,3‐butadiene with (salen)Co(II) complexes in combination with methylaluminoxane

The effect of an alkyl substituted in the aromatic ring of the salen ligand on the polymerization of butadiene (Bd) with (salen)Co(II) complexes in combination with methylaluminoxane (MAO) was investigated. The activity for the polymerization of Bd was influenced significantly by the introduction of alkyl groups at the 3,3′,5,5′‐positions in the aromatic ring of the salen ligand, and both the polymerization rate and 1,4‐cis contents increased in the following order with respect to the alkyl group: H < CH₃ < t‐C₄H₉. This is in good agreement with the bulkiness of the alkyl groups. The activity for the polymerization of the (salen)Co(II) complex possessing t‐C₄H₉ at the 3,3′‐positions was higher than that of the (salen)Co(II) bearing t‐C₄H₉ at the 5,5′‐positions. Thus, the introduction of bulky substituents at the 3,3′‐positions of the salen ligand was an important factor in achieving both high activity and high 1,4‐cis selectivity in the polymerization of Bd with (salen)Co(II) complexes in combination with MAO. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4088–4094, 2006     

A novel one‐dimensional coordination polymer,catena‐poly[[diaquacobalt(II)]‐μ‐(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐3,3′‐dicarboxylato‐κ4N,N′:O,O′)]

The title compound, [Co(C₁₂H₆N₂O₄)(H₂O)₂]_n, has been hydro­thermally synthesized and structurally characterized. It consists of polymeric chains of [Co{μ‐(2,2′‐bipyridyl‐3,3′‐di­carboxyl­ato‐κ⁴N,N′:O,O′)}(H₂O)₂] units, in which each Co^II cation is octahedrally coordinated by two chelating pyridyl N atoms, two chelating carboxyl O atoms from different carboxylate groups of another bipyridyl ligand, and two water mol­ecules as terminal ligands. A crystallographic twofold axis parallel to the chain axis, passes through the Co atom.     

A three‐dimensional cadmium(II) coordination polymer: poly[[[μ‐4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine‐κ2N:N](μ‐3,3′‐thiodipropionato‐κ3O,O′:O)cadmium(II)] monohydrate]

In the title coordination polymer, {[Cd(C₆H₈O₄S)(C₁₃H₁₄N₂)]·H₂O}_n, the Cd^II atom displays a distorted octahedral coordination, formed by three carboxylate O atoms and one S atom from three different 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands, and two N atoms from two different 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine ligands. The Cd^II centres are bridged through carboxylate O atoms of 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands and through N atoms of 4,4′‐(propane‐1,3‐diyl)dipyridine ligands to form two different one‐dimensional chains, which intersect to form a two‐dimensional layer. These two‐dimensional layers are linked by S atoms of 3,3′‐thiodipropionate ligands from adjacent layers to form a three‐dimensional network.     

The antitumour drug 7‐ethyl‐10‐hydroxycamptothecin monohydrate and its solid‐state hydrolysis mechanism on heating

7‐Ethyl‐10‐hydroxycamptothecin [systematic name: (4S)‐4,11‐diethyl‐4,9‐dihydroxy‐1H‐pyrano[3′,4′:6,7]indolizino[1,2‐b]quinoline‐3,14(4H,12H)‐dione, SN‐38] is an antitumour drug which exerts activity through the inhibition of topoisomerase I. The crystal structure of SN‐38 as the monohydrate, C₂₂H₂₀N₂O₅·H₂O, reveals that it is a monoclinic crystal, with one SN‐38 molecule and one water molecule in the asymmetric unit. When the crystal is heated to 473 K, approximately 30% of SN‐38 is hydrolyzed at its lactone ring, resulting in the formation of the inactive carboxylate form. The molecular arrangement around the water molecule and the lactone ring of SN‐38 in the crystal structure suggests that SN‐38 is hydrolyzed by the water molecule at (x, y, z) nucleophilically attacking the carbonyl C atom of the lactone ring at (x − 1, y, z − 1). Hydrogen bonding around the water molecules and the lactone ring appears to promote this hydrolysis reaction: two carbonyl O atoms, which are hydrogen bonded as hydrogen‐bond acceptors to the water molecule at (x, y, z), might enhance the nucleophilicity of this water molecule, while the water molecule at (−x, y + , −z), which is hydrogen bonded as a hydrogen‐bond donor to the carbonyl O atom at (x − 1, y, z − 1), might enhance the electrophilicity of the carbonyl C atom.     

3‐Germyl‐3,3‐di­methyl­propionic acid derivatives

The crystal structures of 3,3‐di­methyl‐3‐(tri­chloro­germyl)­propionic acid, [Ge(C₅H₉O₂)Cl₃], 3,3‐di­methyl‐3‐(tri­phenyl­germyl)­propionic acid, [Ge(C₆H₅)₃(C₅H₉O₂)], and 3,3‐di­methyl‐3‐(tri‐p‐toly­lgermyl)­propionic acid, [Ge(C₇H₇)₃(C₅H₉O₂)], have slightly distorted tetrahedral geometries about the Ge atoms. All the structures form dimers via strong O—H·O hydrogen bonds, resulting in eight‐membered rings that can be best described in terms of graph‐set notation (8).     

Electrochemical behaviour of cobalta-dicarbollide sandwich complexes with different capping units

The redox aptitude of a series of cobalt(III) or cobalt(I) sandwich complexes bearing a charge compensated dicarbollide ligand ([9-L-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻) as a constant unit and different counterparts (varying from classical [7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁]²⁻ to charge-compensated [9-L-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀]⁻ dicarbollides, from cyclopentadienyl [C₅R₅]⁻ (R = Me, H) to cyclobutadiene [C₄Me₄]⁰ ligands) has been studied. All the Co(III) complexes display the reversible sequence Co(III)/Co(II)/Co(I). In contrast, the Co(I) complexes (namely, those capped by tetramethylcyclobutadiene) accede reversibly only to the Co(II) oxidation state, the passage to Co(III) being irreversible. When possible, the Co(II) intermediates have been characterized by EPR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the monocation [Co(η-9-SMe₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀)₂]⁺ in its DD/LL and meso diastereomeric forms as well as that of heteroleptic (η-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₁)Co(η-9-SMe₂-7,8-C₂B₉H₁₀) have been obtained by single-crystal diffraction. Presented at the 3rd Chianti Electrochemistry Meetings July 3−9, 2004, Certosa di Pontignano, Italy