Bis triethylammonium decahydrodecaborate

The decahydrodecaborate(2 —) anion has been prepared by the reaction of triethylamine with decaborane, with 

X Central Research Department, E. I. du Pont de Nemours Company, Inc., Wilmington, Del. 

BioHi2 2CH3CN, and with BioHi2-2(CH3)2S, and by the reaction of the last compound with diethylamine/ i-butyl-amine, ammonium hydroxide, and ammonia. The preparation described below is for the triethylammonium salt. Most of the reactions reported for the BioHio anion start with the ammonium salt. The triethylammonium salt will work equally well in most cases. However, the solubility characteristics of the two salts are different. Reference 3 reports synthesis details for the ammonium salt, should it be required. 

Decahorane is an exceedingly toxic material. It should be handled with gloves in a well-ventilated hood. 

Submitted by W. Gee, R. A. Shaw, and B. C. Smith Checked by John T. YoKEf 

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