Chlorination of 1-Carba-closo-dodecaborate and 1-Ammonio-closo-dodecaborate Anions

Non-Covalent Interactions in the Crystal Structures of Perbrominated Sulfonium Derivatives of the closo-Decaborate Anion

A new series of compounds based on perbrominated disubstituted sulfonium derivatives of the closo-decaborate anion (n-Bu₄N)[2-B₁₀Br₉SR₂] (R = n-Pr, i-Pr, n-Bu, n-C₈H₁₇, n-C₁₂H₂₅, n-C₁₈H₃₇) was obtained, characterised by modern physicochemical methods of analysis. According to the results of an X-ray diffraction study, some of the anions and solvate molecules were disordered. The cations (n-Bu₄N)⁺ and anions [2-B₁₀Br₉SR₂]^- were associated via C-H…Br and H…H contacts. In addition, Br…Br interactions between anions were revealed. The role of these contacts was analysed in terms of Hirshfeld surface analysis, QTAIM theory and the NCI method using quantum chemical calculations. An increase in the size of the alkyl R moiety led to significant strengthening of the total energy of H…H interactions. In the case of R = -n-C₁₈H₃₇, a parallel mutual orientation of alkyl moieties was established that was similar to the packing of salts of fatty acids. The nature of C-H…Br and Br…Br interionic interactions was found to be attractive, in contrast to the repulsive nature of intermolecular Br…Br interactions.

Zinc Ammonio-dodecaborates: Synthesis, Lewis Acid Strength, and Reactivity

Two series of zinc salts, [EtZn][A] and Zn[A]₂, with weakly coordinating anions [A]^- as counterions have been prepared, and their activities as catalysts for hydrosilylation reactions of 1-hexene, benzophenone, and acetophenone have been investigated. The counterions and per- and partially chlorinated 1-ammonio-closo-dodecaborate anions [Me₃NB₁₂Cl₁₁]^- [1]^-, [Pr₃NB₁₂H₅Cl₆]^- [2]^-, [Bu₃NB₁₂H₄Cl₇]^- [3]^-, and [Hex₃NB₁₂H₅Cl₆]^- [4]^- were chosen as potential and more readily available alternatives to carborate anions such as [CHB₁₁Cl₁₁]^- and [HexCB₁₁Cl₁₁]^-. The basicity of anion [4]^- was determined as being close to that of the triflimide anion [N(SO₂CF₃)₂]^-, and the fluoride ion affinities (FIAs) of compounds [EtZn][2] and Zn[2]₂ are lower than those of the Lewis acids B(C₆F₅)₃ and Zn[HexCB₁₁Cl₁₁]₂. The higher anion basicity and the resulting lower Lewis acidity of the zinc centers result in low activity in 1-hexene hydrosilylation catalysis and only moderate activity in the hydrosilylation catalysis of benzophenone and acetophenone.

Synthesis of Perchlorinated Sulfonium Derivatives of closo-Decaborate Anion [2-B10Cl9SR2]- (R = i-C3H7, n-C3H7, n-C4H9, n-C8H17, n-C12H25, n-C18H37, CH2Ph, and cyclo-S(CH2)4)

A method for obtaining perchlorinated di-S,S-substituted derivatives of the closo-decaborate anion with various alkyl groups has been developed: [B₁₀Cl₉SR₂]^- (R= i-C₃H₇, n-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉, n-C₈H₁₇, n-C₁₂H₂₅, n-C₁₈H₃₇, CH₂Ph, and cyclo-S(CH₂)₄). The method is based on the preparation of the sulfonium-substituted anion [B₁₀H₉SR₂]^- by alkylation of the anion [B₁₀H₉SH]^2- with bromoalkanes (i-C₃H₇Br, n-C₃H₇Br, n-C₄H₉Br, n-C₈H₁₇Br, n-C₁₂H₂₅Br, n-C₁₈H₃₇Br, PhCH₂Br, and BrCH₂(CH₂)₂CH₂Br) followed by the cluster chlorination with sulfuryl chloride SO₂Cl₂ in acetonitrile. The process proceeds until the hydrogen atoms in the boron cluster are completely replaced with chlorine and completes within 60 h. It has been found that the melting point of salts ((C₄H₉)₄N)[B₁₀Cl₉SR₂] (R= i-C₃H₇, n-C₃H₇, n-C₄H₉, n-C₈H₁₇, n-C₁₂H₂₅, and n-C₁₈H₃₇) strongly depends on the length of the hydrocarbon chain of the substituent R.

Silver(I) and Copper(I) Complexation with Decachloro-Closo-Decaborate Anion

A series of complexation reactions of silver(I) and copper(I) in the presence of a polyhedral weakly coordinating [B10Cl10]2− anion has been carried out. The effect of the solvent and the presence of Ph3P on the composition and structure of the reaction product were studied. Eight novel complexes were obtained and characterized by 11B Nuclear magnetic resonance, Infra-Red, and Raman spectroscopies as well as powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. The [B10Cl10]2− anion demonstrated weaker coordinating ability towards coinage metals than [B10H10]2− at similar reaction conditions. The [B10Cl10]2− anion remains unreacted in the copper(I) complexation reaction, while in the absence of competing ligands, we obtained the first complexes containing decachloro-closo-decaborate anion directly coordinated by the metal atom. The bonding between metal atoms and the boron cluster anions was studied using the atomic Hirshfeld surfaces. Besides edge and face coordination of the polyhedral anion, this method allowed us to reveal the Ag–Ag bond in crystal of {Ag2(DMF)2[B10Cl10]}n, the presence of which was additionally supported by the Raman spectroscopy data.

Versatile, one-pot introduction of nonahalogenated 2-ammonio-decaborate ions as boron cluster scaffolds into organic molecules; host-guest complexation with γ-cyclodextrin

We report the modification of the 2-ammonio group at halogenated decaborate ions with 2,3-epoxypropane, the product of which reacts readily with nucleophiles to form previously inaccessible coupling of polyhedra with organic molecules and materials. We demonstrate that these ions present a good binding motif in supramolecular chemistry.

Na+[Me3NB12Cl11]-·SO2: a rare example of a sodium-SO2 complex

In the title compound, Na+[Me3NB12Cl11]-·SO2 [systematic name: sodium 1-(trimethylammonio)-undeca-chloro-closo-dodeca-borate sulfur dioxide], the SO2 mol-ecule is η 1-O-coordinated to the Na+ cation. Surprisingly, the SO2 mol-ecule is more weakly bound to sodium than is found in other sodium-SO2 complexes and the SO2 mol-ecule is essentially undistorted compared to the structure of free SO2. The Na+ cation has a coordination number of eight in a distorted twofold-capped trigonal prism and makes contacts to three individual boron cluster anions, resulting in an overall three-dimensional network. Although the number of known η 1-O-coordinated SO2 complexes is growing, sodium-SO2 complexes are still rare.

Facile and systematic access to the least-coordinating WCA [(RFO)3Al-F-Al(ORF)3]- and its more Lewis-basic brother [F-Al(ORF)3]- (RF = C(CF3)3)

By reaction of the Lewis acid Me3Si-F-Al(ORF)3 with a series of [PF6]- salts, gaseous PF5 and Me3Si-F are liberated and salts of the anion [F-Al(ORF)3]- ([f-al]-; RF = C(CF3)3) can be obtained. By addition of another equivalent of Me3Si-F-Al(ORF)3 to [f-al]-, gaseous Me3Si-F is released and salts of the least coordinating anion [(RFO)3Al-F-Al(ORF)3]- ([al-f-al]-) are formed. Both procedures work for a series of synthetically useful cations including Ag+, [NO]+, [Ph3C]+ and in very clean reactions with 5 g batch sizes giving excellent yields typically exceeding 90%. In addition, the synthesis of Me3Si-F-Al(ORF)3 has been optimized and scaled up to 85 g batches in an one-pot procedure. These anions could previously only be obtained by difficult to control decomposition reactions of [Al(ORF)4]- or by halide abstraction reactions with Me3Si-F-Al(ORF)3, generating relatively large countercations that are unsuited for further use as universal starting materials. Especially [al-f-al]- is of interest for the stabilization of reactive cations, since it is even weaker coordinating than [Al(ORF)4]- and more stable against strong electrophiles. This bridged anion can be seen as an adduct of [f-al]- and Al(ORF)3. Thus, it is similarly Lewis acidic as BF3 and eventually reacts with nucleophiles (Nu) from the reaction environment to yield Nu-Al(ORF)3 and [f-al]-. This prevents working with [al-f-al]- salts in ethereal or other donor solvents. By contrast, the [f-al]- anion is no longer Lewis acidic and may therefore be used for reactions involving stronger nucleophiles than the [al-f-al]- anion can withstand. Subsequently it may be transformed into the [al-f-al]- salt by simple addition of one equivalent of Me3Si-F-Al(ORF)3.

Taming the Cationic Beast: Novel Developments in the Synthesis and Application of Weakly Coordinating Anions

This Review gives a comprehensive overview of the most topical weakly coordinating anions (WCAs) and contains information on WCA design, stability, and applications. As an update to the 2004 review, developments in common classes of WCA are included. Methods for the incorporation of WCAs into a given system are discussed and advice given on how to best choose a method for the introduction of a particular WCA. A series of starting materials for a large number of WCA precursors and references are tabulated as a useful resource when looking for procedures to prepare WCAs. Furthermore, a collection of scales that allow the performance of a WCA, or its underlying Lewis acid, to be judged is collated with some advice on how to use them. The examples chosen to illustrate WCA developments are taken from a broad selection of topics where WCAs play a role. In addition a section focusing on transition metal and catalysis applications as well as supporting electrolytes is also included.

Synthesis and Applications of Perfunctionalized Boron Clusters

This Viewpoint describes major advances pertaining to perfunctionalized boron clusters in synthesis and their respective applications. The first portion of this work highlights key synthetic methods, allowing one to access a wide range of polyhedral boranes (B4 and B6-B12 cluster cores) that contain exhaustively functionalized vertices. The second portion of this Viewpoint showcases the historical developments in using these molecules for applications ranging from materials science to medicine. Last, we suggest potential new directions for these clusters as they apply to both synthetic methods and applications.

Amino functionalized [B12H12]2− salts as hypergolic fuels

Compared with [B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻ salts (269.8–272.6 s), the resulting [B₁₂H₁₁NH₃]⁻ salts possess higher specific impulses (274.9–276.8 s) as the fuels of hypergolic bipropellants.

B–H functionalization of the monocarba-closo-dodecaborate anion by rhodium and iridium catalysis

The regioselective derivatization of the monocarba-closo-dodecaborate anion via catalytic B–H bond activation is reported.