Reaction of nido-1,2-(CpRuH)2B3H7 with ethynylferrocene to yield new metallacarboranes

Addition of ethynylferrocene to nido-1,2-(Cp^∗RuH)₂B₃H₇ (1) at ambient temperature leads to nido-1,2-(Cp^∗Ru)₂(1,5-μ-C{Fc}Me)B₃H₇ (2, 3) and closo-4-Fc-1,2-(Cp^∗RuH)₂-4,6-C₂B₂H₃ (4). Compounds 2 and 3 represent a pair of geometric isomers, nido-species in which the regiochemistry of the alkyne reduction conforms to the Markovnikoff rule. Compound 4 is an octahedral structure in which the inserted alkyne is on an open face of the closo cluster.     

Reactions of small boranes with ruthenium phosphine hydrides: Oligomerisation of monoborane-tetrahydrofuran to a nido-hexaruthenaborane

Reaction of [Ru(PPh₃)₄H₂] with BH₃ · thf at room temperature gives borane oligomerisation with the formation of the 6-vertex metallaborane nido-2-[Ru(PPh₃)₂(H)B₅H₁₀] (1). This cluster is also formed by reaction of [Ru(PPh₃)₄H₂] with nido-B₅H₉. Compound (1) is readily deprotonated by KH in thf at the unique basal B-H-B bridge to give (2). In contrast to [Ru(PPh₃)₄H₂] reaction of [cis-Ru(PMe₃)₄H₂] with BH₃ · thf gives initially the known borohydride [Ru(PMe₃)₃(H)(η²-BH₄)] which reacts with excess BH₃ · thf to give the 5-vertex metallaborane nido-2-[Ru(PMe₃)₃B₄H₈] (3). Reaction of [cis-Ru(PMe₃)₄H₂] with nido-B₅H₉ also gives (3) and nido-2-[Ru(PMe₃)₃B₉H₁₃] (4). [cis-Ru(PMe₃)₄H₂] is conveniently prepared in high yield in a one-pot synthesis by the sodium amalgam reduction of RuCl₃ · 3H₂O in thf with excess PMe₃ under dinitrogen.     

Formation of ferraboranes from pentaborane(9) or BH3 · thf and an electron-rich cyclopentadienyl iron phosphine hydride

[(η⁵-C₅R₅)Fe(PMe₃)₂H] (R = H, Me) can be made in good yields in a simple one-pot reaction between FeCl₂, PMe₃, C₅R₅H (R = H, Me) and Na/Hg in thf. Reaction of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(PMe₃)₂H] with pentaborane(9) gives the known metallaborane [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₁₀] (1) in improved yield as well as the new metallaboranes [(η-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₈{μ-5,6-Fe(η⁵-C₅H₅)(PMe₃)(μ-6,7-H)}] (2), [(η-C₅H₅)(PMe₃)-arachno-2-FeB₃H₈] (3), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)₂-capped-nido-2,3-Fe₂B₄H₈] (4), [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₄H₇(PMe₃)] (5) and [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₈(PMe₃)] (6). Reaction of [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)Fe(PMe₃)₂H] with pentaborane(9) gives predominantly [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₁₀] (7) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(PMe₃)-arachno-2-FeB₃H₈] (8). Reaction of [(η⁵-C₅H₅)Fe(PMe₃)₂H] with 2 equiv. of BH₃ · thf gives low yields of ferrocene and compound 3. Compound 7 thermally isomerises to the apical isomer [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₁₀] (9) in low yield. Compounds 1 and 7 deprotonate cleanly in the presence of KH at the unique B-H-B bridge to give [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₉⁻][K⁺] (10) and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₉⁻][K⁺] (11) respectively, whilst 6 deprotonates more slowly at one of two equivalent B-H-B bridges to give the fluxional anion [(η⁵-C₅H₅)-nido-2-FeB₅H₇(PMe₃)⁻] (12).     

Metallaheteroborane clusters of group 5 transition metals derived from dichalcogenide ligands

Treatment of group 5 metal polychlorides such as, [Cp_nMCl_4-x] (M = V: n, x = 2; M = Nb: n = 1, x = 0), or [Cp∗TaCl₄] (Cp = η⁵-C₅H₅, Cp∗ = η⁵-C₅Me₅), with [LiBH₄·THF] followed by thermolysis in the presence of diphenyl diselenide yielded metallaheteroborane clusters [{CpV(μ-SePh)}₂(μ-Se)], 1 [(CpNb)₂B₄H₉(μ-SePh)], 2 and [(Cp∗Ta)₂B₄H₁₁(SePh)], 3 in modest yields. Compound 1 is an organovanadium selenolato cluster in which two (CpV) moieties bridged by (μ-Se) and two (μ-SePh) ligands. Compound 2 exhibits a bicapped tetrahedral core with one (μ-SePh) ligand. 3 is a tantalahexaborane cluster in which one of the terminal BH protons is substituted by SePh. Compounds 1-3 have been characterized by mass spectrometry, ¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, and the geometric structures were unequivocally established by crystallographic analysis of 1-3.     

Reaction of a ruthenium B-carboranyl hydride complex and BH3(SMe2): Selective formation of a pincer-supported metallaborane LRu(B3H8)

Reaction of a boryl hydride pincer complex (POBOP)Ru(H)(PPh₃) (POBOP?=?1,7-OP(i-Pr)₂-m-2-carboranyl) and BH₃(SMe₂) at 70?°C led to the selective formation of a pincer-supported metallaborane (POBOP)Ru(B₃H₈). Single crystal structure of (POBOP)Ru(B₃H₈) was determined. This complex features coordination of the carborane cluster through adjacent boryl and borane groups that impose significantly different trans-influence on the coordinated B₃H₈ fragment.     

Metallaborane reaction chemistry. Part 12. Some interactions of acetylenes and isocyanides with selected metallaboranes

Compared to the chemistry associated with the basic syntheses and structures of the metallaboranes, their reaction chemistry is relatively uninvestigated. To illustrate the potential variety of such reaction chemistry, a linked overview of some previously reported and previously unreported reactions of the nido-6-metalladecaboranes [(PPh₃)₂HIrB₉H₁₃], [(PPh₃)(Ph₂PC₆H₄)HIrB₉H₁₂], [(η⁶-C₆Me₆)RuB₉H₁₃], [(η⁶-MeC₆H₄^isoPr)RuB₉H₁₃] and [(η⁵-C₅Me₅)RhB₉H₁₃] with acetylenes and isocyanides is presented, together with some related chemistry derived from the arachno-type 4-metallanonaboranes [(PMe₂Ph)₂PtB₈H₁₂] and [(PMe₃)₂(CO)HIrB₈H₁₂]. Reductions, oligomerisations, and reductive oligomerisations of the unsaturated species are observed, as well as complete or partial incorporation of carbon and nitrogen hetero atoms into the metallaborane clusters.¹     

Geometry and chemical bonding in polyhedral boranes, metallaboranes, and dimetallaboranes: From closo to isocloso to oblatocloso polyhedra

The geometry and chemical bonding in the closo metal-free boranes and the isoelectronic carboranes and C₂B_n−2H_n with 2n + 2 skeletal electrons are based on the most spherical deltahedra with a preference for degree 5 vertices, particularly for the boron atoms. Such deltahedral boranes can be considered to be three-dimensional aromatic systems, as indicated by strongly diatropic nucleus independent chemical shift values for (n = 6, 8, 9, 12). Metallaborane structures, particularly those with 9-11 vertices and only 2n rather than 2n + 2 apparent skeletal electrons, are often based on isocloso deltahedra with the metal atom at a degree 6 vertex. Dimetallaborane structures, particularly the rhenium derivatives Cp₂Re₂B_n−2H_n−2 (8 ? n ? 12), are based on highly non-spherical and very oblate deltahedra with the metal atoms typically at degree 6 or 7 vertices, which are the lowest curvature sites of the deltahedra. A viable model for the skeletal bonding in such dimetallaboranes can be developed if each of the two metal vertices is assumed to contribute five internal orbitals to the skeletal bonding. This leads to 2n + 4 skeletal electrons, which are partitioned into n surface bonds and a formal metal-metal double bond inside the oblate deltahedron.     

Anionic alkyl diglycoldiamides with covalently bonded cobalt bis(dicarbollide)(1−) ions for lanthanide and actinide extractions

Ionic diamides composed of a N,N′-dialkyl diglycolyl complexing group and two cobalt bis(dicarbollide)(1−) anions were synthesized with the aim to develop efficient extraction agents for liquid-liquid extraction of polyvalent cations, i.e. lanthanides and actinides from high-level activity nuclear waste. Compounds of general formulation [{(N,N-(8-CH₂-CH₂O)₂-1,2-C₂B₉H₁₀)(1′,2′-C₂B₉H₁₁)-3,3′-Co)(N′,N′-R)NCOCH₂}₂O]Na₂, where R = n-C₄H₉, n-C₈H₁₇, n-C₁₂H₂₅ and 1-C₆H₄-4-CH₃ (1-4), were prepared and characterized by combination of ¹¹B ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, HPLC and other techniques. Effects of different nitrogen substitution in the structures of 1-4 on the extraction properties were tested. The study resulted in the observation that the compounds are significantly (2-3 orders in magnitude) more efficient extractants for Eu(III) and Am(III) than synergic mixtures of organic N,N′-tetra n-octyl diglycolic acid diamide (TODGA) and chlorinated cobalt bis(dicarbollide) at the same concentrations of both groups. Low polar mixtures of n-dodecane (D) and hexyl methyl ketone (HMK) can be applied as an auxiliary solvent for extraction, replacing thus the polar and less environmentally friendly nitro-, fluoro- and chloro- solvents used in the current dicarbollide liquid-liquid extraction process.     

Synthesis, structure and characterization of dimolybdaheteroboranes

Chalcogen-stabilized dimolybdaboranes 3-5 (3: [(Cp^∗Mo)₂B₄H₅Se(Ph)], 4: [(Cp^∗Mo)₂B₄H₃Se₂(SeCH₂Ph)] and 5: [(Cp^∗Mo)₂B₃H₆(BSR)(μ-η¹-SR)] (R = 2,6-(^tBu)₂-C₆H₂OH)) have been isolated from the mild pyrolysis of dichalcogenide ligands, RE-E‘R (R = Ph: E = S, E‘ = Se; R = CH₂Ph, [2,6-(^tBu)₂-C₆H₂OH]: E = E‘ = Se, S) and [(Cp^∗Mo)₂B₄H₈], 2, an intermediate generated from the reaction of [Cp^∗MoCl₄] (1) (Cp^∗ = η⁵-C₅Me₅), with [LiBH₄.thf]. The geometry of [(Cp^∗Mo)₂B₄H₅Se(Ph)] is similar to that of [(Cp^∗Mo)₂B₅H₉], in which one BH₃ unit on the open face is replaced by a triple bridged selenium atom. All the compounds have been characterized in solution by ¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structural types were unequivocally established by X-ray crystallographic analysis of compounds 3-5.     

Partial incorporation of a cyclopentadienyl ligand into a molybdaborane to form a molybdacarbaborane

Reaction of the molybdaborane arachno-2-[Mo(η-C₅H₅)(η⁵:η¹-C₅H₄)B₄H₇] (I) with NEt₃ in toluene at 120 °C for 7 days gives a 90% yield of the molybdacarbaborane nido-1-[Mo(η-C₅H₅)(η³:η²-C₃H₃)C₂B₃H₅] (II). Two of the carbon atoms in the substituted cyclopentadienyl ring in I are incorporated into the metallacarbaborane cluster II. The carbaborane {C₂B₃H₅} fragment in II is attached to an allylic {C₃H₃} group and can be thought of as a new non-planar {C₅B₃H₈} ligand providing seven electrons to the molybdenum atom. Reaction of I with KH in thf at 20 °C gives the anion via deprotonation of a B-H-B bridging proton.