Interconversion of boron hydrides. Part 2. Cothermolysis of tetraborane(10), B4H10, with other boranes at 75 °C

Abstract

A mass spectrometric method of analysis has been used to study the cothermolysis of B₄H₁₀ with B₂H₆, B₅H₉, B₅H₁₁, B₆H₁₀, and B₆H₁₂ at 75 °C. The reactions are complicated. The variations with time of the concentrations of the major products are compared with results obtained from the thermolysis of each borane singly to elicit information about the role of B₄H₁₀ and possible reactive species formed from B₄H₁₀ in the cothermolysis. A series of reactions are suggested which invoke {B₄H₈} as a reactive species of major importance from B₄H₁₀.