Cluster compounds Arachno

Wade expanded the 1971 hypothesis to incorporate metal hydrocarbon 7T complexes, electron-rich aromatic ring systems, and aspects of transition metal cluster compounds [a parallel that had previously been noted by Corbett 19) for cationic bismuth clusters]. Rudolph and Pretzer chose to emphasize the redox nature of the closo, nido, and arachno interconversions within a given size framework, and based the attendant opening of the deltahedron after reduction (diagonally downward from left to right in Fig. 1) on first- and second-order Jahn-Teller distortions 115, 123). Rudolph and Pretzer have also successfully utilized the author s approach to predict the most stable configuration of SB9H9 (1-25) 115) and other thiaboranes. 

Reaction between the arachno-[B3H8 ] anion and complex 1 gives the arachno four-vertex complex 140 in 66% yield (92,97). Treatment of 140 with closo-[Bl0Hw]2 in refluxing ethanol affords as the major product (32%) the unexpected triruthenium decaboron double-cluster compound 141, which has been analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (97). 

A theory which shows greater applicability to bonding in cluster compounds is the Polyhedral Skeletal Electron Pair Theory (PSEPT) which allows the probable structure to be deduced from the total number of skeletal bond pairs (400). Molecular orbital calculations show that a closed polyhedron with n vertex atoms is held together by a total of (n + 1) skeletal bond pairs. A nido polyhedron, with one vertex vacant, is held together by (n + 2) skeletal bond pairs, and an arachno polyhedron, with two vacant vertices, by (n + 3) skeletal bond pairs. Further, more open structures are obtainable by adding additional pairs of electrons. This discussion of these polyhedral shapes is normally confined to metal atoms, but it is possible to consider an alkyne, RC=CR, either as an external ligand or as a source of two skeletal CR units. So that, for example, the cluster skeleton in the complex Co4(CO)10(RCCR), shown in Fig. 16, may be considered as a nido trigonal bipyramid (a butterfly cluster) with a coordinated alkyne or as a closo octahedron with two carbon atoms in the core. 

Boranes and carboranes have structures in which their skeletal B- or C-atoms form triangular-faced polyhedra. There are basically three structural types, namely the closo- (an euphonious modification of the Greek clovo = cage, i. e., a complete or closed polyhedron), the nido (from Latin nest-like ) and the arachno- (from Greek cob-web ) structure. Each of these three types is adopted by cluster compounds of specific atomic ratios. c/o o-Structures occur in borane dianions B H , in car-borane anions (CB iH ) , and carboranes (C2B 2H ). Each skeletal atom has a single H-atom terminally attached by a bond directed outwards, away from the polyhedron center (see the example of BioHio in Fig. 3-1 below). Wo-Structures are adopted by boranes B H +4 and their related carboranes CB iH +3, C2H 2H +2 etc., and amc/z/2o-structures by boranes B H +6 and related carboranes CB iH +5, C2B 2H +4 etc. In other words, carboranes have the general formula [(CH) (BH) Hc] , where the sum a + c + x) is equal to 2 for a closo-structure, 4 for a /do-structure, and 6 for an amc/z o-structure. 

The synthesis, X-ray structure, and dynamic NMR properties of the arachno 10-vertex cluster [9,9-(PMe2Ph)2-9,6,8-PtS2B7H7] has been reported the compound was fluxional via a vertex flip of the Pt(PMe2Ph)2 moiety.84... 

The reaction of 1 with the boron trihalides BC13 and BBr3 turned out to be even more complex. At least three different types of compounds were formed, and the product ratio depended on the polarity of the solvent.30 In the reaction with BBr3 in dichloromethane/hexane (2 1), the boron compound 50 (X = Br) was isolated as the main product (Scheme 12) X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed the presence of a novel arachno-type cluster possessing a BC4 framework (Fig. 8). 

In the reaction with BC13 or BBr3 in toluene as solvent, ionic compounds of type 51 were isolated as the main products together with the arachno-clusters 50 (X = C1, Br) and the compounds Me5C5BX2 as byproducts (Scheme 13). The nido cluster cation in 51 is identical with that in compound 48. 

Williams [1] has given an excellent review on Early Carboranes and Their Structural Legacy and he defines carboranes as follows Carboranes are mixed hydrides of carbon and boron in which atoms of both elements feature in the electron-deficient polyhedral molecular skeleton . According to the electron counting rules [2] for closo- (2n + 2 SE), nido- (2n + 4 SE) and arachno-clusters (2n + 6 SE SE = skeletal electrons, n = number of framework atoms) and the An + 2 n electron Hiickel rule, small compounds with skeletal carbon and boron atoms may have an electron count for carboranes and for aromatics (see Chapters 1.1.2 and 1.1.3). 

The hexacarbaborane 76 (Scheme 3.2-40) has a drum-shaped arachno-C6B6 structure, according to NMR data and MO calculations. It is assumed that 76 results from further condensation of 67 with 68 to give the intermediate 77. Interestingly, the compound 78 is the parent compound of 76, however, they have different structures. 78 is a C4B6-cluster having a classical C2H2 handle [98]. 

Pd Bi o]" + is an example of an arachno cluster in the compound [Pd Bi, ) (BiBr j ). It has 2n + 6 skeleton electrons if one assumes one lone electron pair per Bi atom and a neutral Pd atom. The Bi atoms form a pentagonal antiprism which is the same as an icosahedron with two missing vertices. 

There are a number of other important boron cage compounds as well as structurally similar metal atom cluster molecules that are not closed polyhedra. Generally, these may be regarded as derived from closed polyhedra by removal of one or two vertices. The diagram below illustrates how removal of one or two vertices generates the so-called nido and arachno relatives of a closo octahedral structure. 

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