Relevance of the electronegativity of boron in eta5-coordinating ligands: regioselective monoalkylation and monoarylation in cobaltabisdicarbollide [3,3'-Co(1,2-C2B9H11)2]- clusters

Regioselective monoalkylation and monoarylation in cobaltabisdicarbollide clusters has been achieved starting from Cs8-I-3,3'-Co(1,2-C(2)B(9)H(10))(1',2'-C(2)B(9)H(11))] by cross-coupling reactions between a B-I fragment and an appropriate Grignard reagent in the presence of a Pd catalyst and CuI. A considerable number of monoalkylated and monoarylated derivatives have been synthesized, which allowed study of the influence of boron in metallocene-type ligands and the effect of alkyl and aryl substituents on boron in boron anionic clusters. Experimental data from UV/Vis spectroscopy, E(1/2) measurements, and X-ray diffraction analysis, and supported by EHMO and ab initio analyses, indicate that the participation of metal d orbitals in the HOMO is less than that in typical metallocene complexes. This can be explained in terms of the lower electronegativity of boron compared to carbon. Related to this is the -I character of alkyl groups when bonded to boron in boron anionic clusters, contrary to the common belief that alkyl groups are generally electron-releasing moieties.