Selective cage boron/carbon extrusion reaction of 13-vertex carborane μ-1,2-(CH2)3–1,2-C2B11H11: formation of nido-CB10, closo-CB10, and closo-C2B10 species

Abstract

The nature of nucleophiles greatly influences the reactivity patterns of 13-vertex carboranes. μ-1,2-(CH₂)₃–1,2-C₂B₁₁H₁₁ reacts with Et₃N/MeOH, pyridine or bipyridine to give cage-boron and -carbon extrusion products nido-CB₁₀ or closo-CB₁₀, or a cage-boron extrusion compound closo-C₂B₁₀ while the cage-carbon extrusion species closo-CB₁₁ monoanions are produced by treatment with MeOH or Ph₃P.