Oxidation of germa- and stanna-closo-dodecaborate

Boranyl-Functionalized [Ge9 ] Clusters: Providing the Idea of Intramolecular Ge/B Frustrated Lewis Pairs

The unique three-dimensional structure of spherical, homoatomic nine-atom germanium clusters opens various possibilities for the spatial arrangement of functional groups. Ligands comprising lone pairs have recently been introduced in the cluster sphere, and we now report the addition of a boranyl group to the cluster featuring a Ge-B exo-cluster bond. The reaction of the twofold-silylated cluster [Ge9 {Si(TMS)3 }2 ]2- (TMS=trimethylsilyl) with 2-chloro-1,3,2-diazaborolidines DABR -Cl leads to the first boranyl-functionalized [Ge9 ] clusters [Ge9 {Si(TMS)3 }2 DABR ]- (R=methyl (1 a), iso-propyl (2 a), ortho-tolyl (3 a)). The anions 2 a and 3 a were structurally characterized as [NHCDipp Cu]+ complexes (NHCDipp =1,3-di(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazolylidine) through single crystal X-ray structure determination. Quantum-chemical calculations manifest the frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) character of the boranyl-functionalized cluster [Ge9 {Si(TMS)3 }2 BCy2 ]- (4 a).

Impact scenarios in boron carbide: A computational study

The effect of radiative impacts on the structure of boron carbide has been studied by both classical and ab initio simulations. As a part of this study, a new forcefield was developed for use in studying boron carbide materials. Impact scenarios in boron carbide were simulated in order to investigate the exceptional resistance of this material, and other icosahedral boron solids, to high-energy impact events. It was observed that interstitial defects created by radiative impacts are likely to be quenched locally, utilizing the high substitutional disorder of chains and cages in the boron carbide structure, rather than via impacted atoms recombining with their vacated lattice site.