Aufbau und Abbau von (NH4)[BF4] und H3N‐BF3

Production and Decomposition of (NH₄)[BF₄] and H₃N‐BF₃ (NH₄)[BF₄] is produced as single crystals during the reaction of elemental boron and NH₄HF₂ (B : NH₄HF₂ = 1 : 2) and NH₄F (B : NH₄F = 1 : 4), respectively, in sealed copper ampoules at 300 °C. The crystal structure (baryte type, orthorhombic, Pnma, Z = 4) was redetermined at ambient temperature (a = 909.73(18), b = 569.77(10), c = 729.47(11) pm, R_all = 0.0361) and at 140 K (a = 887.3(2), b = 574.59(12), c = 717.10(12) pm, R_all = 0.0321). Isolated (NH₄)⁺ and [BF₄]^— tetrahedra are the important building units. The thermal behaviour of (NH₄)[BF₄] was investigated under inert (Ar, N₂) and reactive conditions (NH₃) with the aid of DTA/TG and DSC measurements and with in‐situ X‐ray powder diffraction as well. Finally, (NH₄)[BF₄] is decomposed yielding NH₃ and BF₃, BN is not produced under the current conditions. Colourless single crystals of H₃N‐BF₃ were prepared directly from the components NH₃ and BF₃. The crystal structure was determined anew at 293 and 170 K (orthorhombic, Pbca, Z = 8, a = 815.12(10), b = 805.91(14), c = 929.03(12) pm, R_all = 0.0367; a = 807.26(13), b = 800.48(10), c = 924.31(11) pm, R_all = 0.0292, T = 170 K). The crystal structure contains isolated molecules H₃N‐BF₃ in staggered conformation with a B‐N distance of 158 pm. The thermal behaviour of H₃N‐BF₃ was studied likewise.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of an 11-vertex nido-diphosphaborane, 7,9-Ph2-nido-7,9-P2B9H9

The new 11-vertex nido-diphosphaborane, 7,9-Ph₂-nido-7,9-P₂B₉H₉, has been synthesized by the reaction of Me₄N⁺[nido-B₉H₁₂⁻] with PhPCl₂ in the presence of NaH. A single crystal X-ray diffraction determination and DFT/GIAO/NMR methods have both established that the compound has an open cage structure containing the phosphorus atoms in non-adjacent positions on the open face.     

The chemistry of the azanonaborane cluster RNH2---B8H11NHR

The preparation and properties of the R¹R²NH---B₈H₁₁NHR cluster are described. The cluster is stable to aqueous solutions and can be made water-soluble by the introduction of a few hydrophilic groups. This makes the cluster a good candidate as the boron moiety in compounds for boron neutron capture therapy. The chemistry of the cluster preparation, the stability of the cluster, and conditions for reactions of the organic moieties are reviewed. Pyridine derivatives of the cluster show electronic interaction between the cluster and the pyridine.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Li‐containing Boron Carbide r‐Li~1B13C2

Transparent and nearly colorless single crystals of r‐LiB₁₃C₂ were obtained by reaction of boron with Li₂CO₃ in a Cu melt at 1250–1300 °C. The structure analysis [R3 m, a = 5.6535(1), c = 12.5320(2) Å, 421 independent reflections, 22 parameters, R₁ = 0.034, wR₂ = 0.093] revealed a crystal structure that can be described as a filling variant of rhombohedral B₁₃C₂. Li⁺ is located in a void above or below the linear CBC unit. The site occupation is close to 50 % resulting in an electron‐precise composition according to Wade's rules if a positive charge is given to the CBC entity: Li⁺(B₁₂)^2–(CBC)⁺. The displacement parameters of the CBC unit indicate disorder in the [001] direction, that relates to the short Li–C distance and the partial occupation of the Li⁺ site. The composition is confirmed by EELS measurements of single crystals. Band gap calculations give a value of 2.94 eV, which is in agreement to the crystals being colorless. The evaluation of the electron density by application of the QTAIM formalism as proposed by Bader modifies the assignment pictured above according to Wade's rules. In agreement to the electronegativities the carbon atoms carry a negative charge (–2.31/–2.42) and the effective charges are: Li^+0.81(B₁₂)^+2.02(CBC)^–2.83.     

Electrochemical Detection of Catechol on Boron‐doped Diamond Electrode Modified with Au/TiO2 Nanorod Composite

Au/TiO₂ nanorod composites with different ratios of [TiO₂]:[Au] have been prepared by chemically reducing AuCl₄^‐ on the positively charged TiO₂ nanorods surface and used to modify boron‐doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. The electrochemical behaviors of catechol on the bare and different Au/TiO₂ nanorod composites‐modified BDD electrodes are studied. The cyclic voltammetric results indicate that these different Au/TiO₂ nanorod composites‐modified BDD electrodes can enhance the electrocatalytic activity toward catechol detection, as compared with the bare BDD electrode. Among these different conditions, the Au/TiO₂‐BDD3 electrode (the ratio of [TiO₂]:[Au] is 27:1) is the most choice for catechol detection. The electrochemical response dependences of the Au/TiO₂‐BDD3 electrode on pH of solution and the applied potential are studied. The detection limit of catechol is found to be about 1.4 × 10^‐6 M in a linear range from 5 × 10^‐6 M to 200 × 10^‐6 M on the Au/TiO₂‐BDD3 electrode.     

Rb2Co3(H2O)2[B4P6O24(OH)2]: Ein Borophosphat mit ‐Tetraeder‐Anionenteilstruktur und Oktaeder‐Trimeren (CoO12(H2O)2)

Rb₂Co₃(H₂O)₂[B₄P₆O₂₄(OH)₂]: A Borophosphate with ‐Tetrahedral Anionic Partial Structure and Trimers of Octahedra (Co O₁₂(H₂O)₂) Rb₂Co₃(H₂O)₂[B₄P₆O₂₄(OH)₂] is formed under mild hydrothermal conditions (T = 165 °C) from mixtures of RbOH_(aq), CoCl₂, H₃BO₃, and H₃PO₄ (molar ratio 1 : 1 : 1 : 2). The crystal structure (orthorhombic system) was solved by X‐ray single crystal methods (space group Pbca, No. 61; R‐values (all data): R1 = 0.0699, wR2 = 0.0878): a = 950.1(1) pm, b = 1227.2(2) pm, c = 2007.4(2) pm; Z = 4. The anionic partial structure consists of tetrahedral [B₄P₆O₂₄(OH)₂^8–] layers, which contain three‐ and nine‐membered rings. Co^II is octahedrally coordinated by oxygen and oxygen and H₂O ligands, respectively (coordination octahedra CoO₆ and CoO₄(H₂O)₂). Three adjacent coordination octahedra are condensed via common edges to form trimeric units (CoO₁₂(H₂O)₂). The oxidation state +2 of cobalt was confirmed by magnetic measurements. The octahedral trimers are quasi‐isolated. No long‐range magnetic ordering occurs down to 2 K. Rb⁺ is disordered over three crystallographically independent sites within channels of the structure running parallel [010]; the coordination sphere of Rb⁺ is formed by nine oxygen species of the tetrahedral layers, one OH group and one H₂O molecule.     

Synthesis and X-ray structural characterisation of the tetramethylene oxonium derivative of the hydrodecaborate anion. A versatile route for derivative chemistry of [B10H10]

The oxonium derivative P(C₆H₅)₄[2-B₁₀H₉O(CH₂)₄] (1) has been prepared from [B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻ by a solvent-addition reaction route, promoted by Et₂O · BF₃. Its structure has been confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. 1 is assumed to be a useful synthon for the derivative chemistry of [B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻. As an illustration, ring-opening reaction occurred in presence of the strong nucleophilic agent OH⁻, giving the monoanionic derivative [P(C₆H₅)₄]₂[2-B₁₀H₉O(CH₂)₄OH] (2).     

The effect of the sintering atmosphere on the densification of B4C ceramics

Densification of boron carbide during sintering may be improved by a two-stage process, namely heating to 2000°C under vacuum and sintering at 2190°C under argon. This sintering regime allows achieving a relative density of the ceramic bodies fabricated from a fine powder higher than 95%. The nitrogen treatment of the boron carbide phase at 1900°C leads to the formation of the BN phase and precipitation of graphite. Vacuum treatment of these samples at 2000°C leads to decomposition of the boron nitride phase. The liberated free boron may again react with graphite to form in situ boron carbide particles. The experimental investigations of the sintering behavior of the boron carbide phase under various atmospheres supported the thermodynamic predictions regarding the phase transformation. No evidence, however, was found for enhanced sintering under a nitrogen atmosphere.     

Studies on diastereoselective reduction of cyclic β-ketoesters with boron hydrides. Part 4: The reductive profile of functionalized cyclohexanone derivatives

Reduction of 2-allyl-2-carboalkoxycyclohexanones (3d-f), 2-propyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3g) and 2-benzyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanone (3h) with boron hydrides in the presence and absence of several chelating agents were studied. Molecular modeling studies using semiempirical PM3 method were performed in order to find a suitable explanation of the diastereoselection of ketone carbonyl faces during the reductive process, which yielded trans-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (6e) and cis-2-allyl-2-carboethoxycyclohexanol (7e) in good diastereomeric excess by using inexpensive sodium and tetrabutylammonium borohydrides.     

Enantioselective synthesis of m-carboranylalanine, a boron-rich analogue of phenylalanine

The enantiomers of the highly lipophilic α-amino acid m-carboranyl-alanine [3-(1,7-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12)-1-yl)-2-aminopropanoic acid], a carborane containing analogue of phenylalanine, have been synthesised via hydroxyamination of the N-acyl derivative formed from 3-(m-carboranyl)propionic acid [3-(1,7-dicarba-closo-dodeca-borane(12)-1-yl)-2-propanoic acid] and Oppolzer's camphor sultam. The enantiomeric excess of both enantiomers of the amino acid was >98%. (S)-Configuration was assigned to the (+)-enantiomer (CH₃OH, 589 nm).