Simple and scalable synthesis of the carborane anion CB11H12−

Abstract

We report a method to obtain carba-closo-dodecaborate anion CB₁₁H₁₂⁻ from boron cluster B₁₁H₁₄⁻ in up to 95% yield using difluorocarbene to complete the carborane cluster. Difluorocarbene itself comes from readily available Ruppert–Prakash reagent CF₃SiMe₃. The synthesis is straightforward to carry out in heavy wall glass pressure tubes without the need for a glove-box and is easily scalable to 15 g scale.