Chemistry related to cluster-borane analogues of the cyclopentadienide anion and ferrocene: New developments

A review on cluster-borane analogues of the cyclopentadienide anion (Cp) and ferrocene is presented. Analogues of Cp that have been so far isolated and characterised are the 11-vertex triheteroboranes of general structure nido-E₃B₈H₈]⁻ (where E = CH or P and their combinations), the molecules of which contain an open pentagonal face. These anions were used as effective ligands for the preparation of “half- and full-sandwich” complexes CpFeE₃B₈H₈] and Fe(E₃B₈H₈)₂], respectively - analogues of ferrocene. Developments in this area of cluster-borane chemistry that include recent results in the synthesis and Fe-complexation reactions of 11-vertex tricarbaboranes (tricarbollides), phosphadicarbollides, and diphosphacarbollides are the subject of this work.