Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry. Synchrotron X-ray structural analysis of [(PMe2Ph)2Pd2B16H20(PMe2Ph)2] and [(PMe2Ph)3Pt2B16H18(PMe2Ph)]: models of intermediates to more condensed metallaboranes from the [(PMe2Ph)2PtB8H12] thermolysis system

Abstract

Thermolyses of [(PMe₂Ph)₂PdB₈H₁₂] and [(PMe₂Ph)₂PtB₈H₁₂] respectively yield eighteen-vertex [(PMe₂Ph)₂Pd₂B₁₆H₂₀(PMe₂Ph)₂] and [(PMe₂Ph)₃Pt₂B₁₆H₁₈(PMe₂Ph)], which exhibit structure models for probable successive precursive intermediates for the more condensed macropolyhedral metallaboranes [(PMe₂Ph)₄Pt₃B₁₄H₁₆], [(PMe₂Ph)₂Pt₂B₁₂H₁₆] and [(PMe₂Ph)₂Pt₂B₁₆H₁₅(C₆H₄Me)(PMe₂Ph)] that have previously been reported as products from [(PMe₂Ph)₂PdB₈H₁₂] thermolyses.