Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry. syn- and anti-[(C5Me5)2Rh2S2B15H14(OH)]; an interesting nineteen-vertex isomeric pair

Abstract

Reaction of anti-9,9′-S₂B₁₆H₁₆ with [{RhCl₂(C₅Me₅)}₂] resulted in two macropolyhedral rhodathiaboranes, syn and anti isomers of [(C₅Me₅)₂Rh₂S₂B₁₅H ₁₄(OH)]: each compound consists of a nido-shaped {RhSB₈H₇} unit and an arachno-shaped {RhSB₉H₈(OH)} unit conjoined with a B–B edge in common; the isomers differ in the sense of fusion of the two sub-clusters; considerable differential rearrangement has occurred from the starting S₂B₁₆H₁₆ substrate.