Closo

Fig. 2. Idealized deltahedra and deltahedral fragments for closo, nido and arachno boranes and heteroboranes. From left to right the vertical columns give generic closo, nido, and arachno frameworks bridge hydrogens and BH2 groups are not shown, but when appropriate they are placed around the open...

Closo Clusters 2n + 2 Systems). The assignment of valence electrons and the factoring out of those electrons involved in exopolyhedral bonds provides 2n framework electrons for a B H molecule, two electrons short of the 2n + 2 closo count. In fact, stable neutral B H molecules are not... 

Nido Clusters 2n + 4 Systems). Many closo boranes and heteroboranes add two electrons and undergo a concomitant stmctural transformation from a deltahedron to a deltahedral fragment. For instance, closo-2 ()-(Z, [17764-89-OJ, (2n + 2 = 24e ), is readily reduced to... 

Arachno Clusters 2n + 6 Systems). In comparison to the number of known closo and nido boranes and heteroboranes, there are relatively fewer arachno species. Partly because of the lack of a large number of stmctures on which to base empirical rules, arachno stmctures appear to be less predictable than their closo and nido counterparts. For example, there are two isomeric forms of one with the arachno [19465-30-6] framework shown... 

Closo Borane Anions. This group contains a homologous series of very stable polyhedral anions, [doso —, n = 6-12. Just as the... 

In aqueous solution, closo borane anions are very stable as their conjugate acids, which possess acidity similar to sulfuric acid, yet their chemistry is remarkably different. Large unipositive cations, such as Tl", Cs", Rb", [(CH2)4N]", and [(CH2)3S]", yield water-iasoluble salts of ... 

Pyrolysis of CsjB Hg] at 230°C gives CS2IB2H2] (60%) along with some CS2IB2QH2Q], CS2IB22H22], and CsBH (93). The sensitivity of polyhedral expansion reactions to solvent, temperature, and pressure is further exemplified by the results ia dioxane at 120°C under pressure. To obtain the closo borane, NajB H J is first converted to Cs2[B2 H23], which can be pyrolyzed to give Cs2[B2 H2J (89). 

BgHg] , and [B H ] closo anions are stable ia neutral and alkaline solutions but react rapidly with aqueous acid. Strongly acidic solutions... 

The discovery (116) of the base-promoted degradation of the isomeric closo-Q,. . cages provided one of the most important carborane anion systems, the isomeric nido-Q,. ][ , anions,... 

Nonicosahedral carboranes can be prepared from the icosahedral species by similar degradation procedures or by reactions between boranes such as B H q and B H with acetylenes. The degradative reactions for intermediate C2B H 2 species (n = 6-9) have been described in detail (119). The small closo-Qr Yi 2 species (n = 3-5 are obtained by the direct thermal reaction (500—600°C) of B H using acetylene in a continuous-flow system. The combined yields approach 70% and the product distribution is around 5 5 1 of 2,4-C2B3H2 [20693-69-0] to l,6-C2B Hg [20693-67-8] to 1,5-C2B3H3 [20693-66-7] (120). A similar reaction (eq. 60) employing base catalysts, such as 2 6-dimethylpyridine at ambient temperature gives nido-2 >-(Z, ... 

As with the simple boranes, the closo carboranes are generally more thermally stable than the corresponding nido and arachno species. Thermal decomposition of nido and arachno carboranes often leads to one or more closo carborane. For example, pyrolysis of 2,3-C2B4Hg is another route to 2,3-C2B3H2 [30347-95-6], l,2-C2B4Hg [20693-68-9] and l,6-C2B4Hg [20693-67-8], and 1,5-C2B3H3 [20693-66-7] (123). 

The nitrogen of these aminocarboranes can be alkylated to give, eg, 7-[N(CH3)3]-7-CB2qH22 [31117-16-5]. These compounds give closo-2-(Z. . ]Y, [38102-45-0] upon treatment with Na in tetrahydrofuran (THF) followed by iodine oxidation (eq. 63) (126). 

Other large monocarbaboranes include /<7( -6-(NR3)-6-CB2H [f/oj o-l-CB H J [38192-43-7] and closo-C ]H. ][ [39102-46-0]. The closo monocarbaboranes can be functionalized at carbon via lithiation using reagents such as -butyl lithium in a manner similar to the dicarbaboranes. The small monocarbaboranes /oj o-l-CB H [25301-90-0], nido-2-C [12385-35-2], and a variety of their alkylated derivatives are also known (127,128). 

The closo, nido, arachno classification is given on the basis of framework electron count and not stmcture. 

The first closo metaHaborane complexes prepared (159) were the nickelaboranes [< /(9j 0-( q -C H )Ni(B22H22)] and closo-l]l- r]-Q ]) -l]l-53i] pri Q [55266-88-1] (Fig. 13). These species are equivalent to closo-C ]]ri ][ i closo-Q, p5 2 by tbe electron-counting formaUsm. The mixed bimetallic anion [ /(9j (9-(Tj -C H )2CoNi(B2QH2Q)] and other related species were reported later (160). These metallaboranes display remarkable hydrolytic, oxidative, and thermal stabiUty. 

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