Molecular structures of 1,12-B12H10(CO)2 and its dihydrate 1,12-B12H10[C(OH)2]2—a novel bis-carbene complex
Abstract
Crystal structures of the dicarbonyl 1,12-B12H10(CO)2 and its hydrated form 1,12-B12H10(CO2H2)2·4H2O show little π-bond character in their B–C bonds but contain significant distortions from the regular B12 icosahedron geometry; the hydrate, until now thought to be a hydroxonium salt, contains dihydroxycarbene (‘protonated carboxylic acid’) ligands C(OH)2.