Electron interactions in the closo-carboranes 1,2- and 1,7-C2B10H12

Ultra-soft X-ray fluorescence spectra of ortho- and meta-carborane C₂B₁₀H₁₂ were obtained. Ab initio self-consistent field (SCF) quantum-chemical calculations of these molecules were performed to interpret BK and CK spectra. Distinctions between electronic structure of closo-carboranes 1,2- and 1,7-C₂B₁₀H₁₂ are caused by different efficiency in the interaction of carbon and boron atoms. Location of boron atom between carbon atoms leads to stronger delocalization of electron density in meta-carborane molecule. The correlation between molecular orbitals (MOs) of the anion B₁₂H₁₂²⁻ and the closo-carboranes was carried out.