Synthesis,molecular structure and reactivity of the dimethyl sulfide adduct of a 1,3,2-diselenaborolane with an annelated dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) unit

The reaction of 1,2-diselenolato-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) dianion [1,2-(1,2-C₂B₁₀H₁₀)Se₂]²⁻ with HBBr₂–SMe₂ affords the dimethyl sulfide adduct of 4,5-[1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborano(12)]-1,3-diselena-2-borolane in good yield. The molecular structure was determined by X-ray diffraction, and the solution-state structure was established by NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹¹B, ¹³C, ⁷⁷Se NMR). ¹¹B and ⁷⁷Se chemical shifts were reproduced by DFT calculations. Attempts were made to abstract dimethyl sulfide, and the parent donor-free compound could be detected in solution. The reactivity of the title compound was studied towards pyridine, Me₃SnF, [Pt(PPh₃)₂(C₂H₄)], tert-Bu-OH, AlMe₃ and AlH₃-N(Et)Me₂ as well as a hydroborating reagent.