Structural Characterization and Cage-Condensation Reactions of the Coupled-Cage Borane 1:2'-(B2H8)2: New Routes to Higher Single-Cage Boranes and Carboranes

摘要

We recently reported the development of high-yield, catalytic synthetic routes to boron-boron-coupled polyhedral boranes and carboranes via transition-metal-promoted dehydrocondensation reactions. The facile formation of multicage systems is potentially of great significance in polyhedral borane chemistry since the procedures used for their syntheses provide new pathways to higher boron content materials, which avoid the problems inherent in traditional thermally induced cage growth reactions. We report here the first structural characterization, by means of a single-crystal X-ray study, of 1:2'-(B5H8)2 and that furthermore, under appropriate conditions, 1:2'-(B5H8)2 will undergo multicage to single-cage rearrangements to produce a number of important higher polyhedral boranes.