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