The reaction of [Cp*TaCl(4)], 1 (Cp* = η(5)-C(5)Me(5)), with [LiBH(4)·THF] at -78 °C, followed by thermolysis in the presence of excess [BH(3)·THF], results in the formation of the oxatantalaborane cluster [(Cp*Ta)(2)B(4)H(10)O], 2 in moderate yield. Compound 2 is a notable example of an oxatantalaborane cluster where oxygen is contiguously bound to both the metal and boron. Upon availability of 2, a room temperature reaction was performed with [Fe(2)(CO)(9)], which led to the isolation of [(Cp*Ta)(2)B(2)H(4)O{H(2)Fe(2)(CO)(6)BH}], 3. Compound 3 is an unusual heterometallic boride cluster in which the [Ta(2)Fe(2)] atoms define a butterfly framework with one boron atom lying in a semi-interstitial position. Likewise, the diselenamolybdaborane, [(Cp*Mo)(2)B(4)H(4)Se(2)], 4 was treated with an excess of [Fe(2)(CO)(9)] to afford the heterometallic boride cluster [(Cp*MoSe)(2)Fe(6)(CO)(13)B(2)(BH)(2)], 5. The cluster core of 5 consists of a cubane [Mo(2)Se(2)Fe(2)B(2)] and a tricapped trigonal prism [Fe(6)B(3)] fused together with four atoms held in common between the two subclusters. In the tricapped trigonal prism subunit, one of the boron atoms is completely encapsulated and bonded to six iron and two boron atoms. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 have been characterized by mass spectrometry, IR, (1)H, (11)B, (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and the geometric structures were unequivocally established by crystallographic analysis. The density functional theory calculations yielded geometries that are in close agreement with the observed structures. Furthermore, the calculated (11)B NMR chemical shifts also support the structural characterization of the compounds. Natural bond order analysis and Wiberg bond indices are used to gain insight into the bonding patterns of the observed geometries of 2, 3, and 5.

The reaction of the [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5))MoCl(4)] complex with [LiBH(4).THF] in toluene at -70 degrees C, followed by pyrolysis at 110 degrees C, afforded dark brown [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)Mo)(3)MoB(9)H(18)], 2, in parallel with the known [(eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)Mo)(2)B(5)H(9)], 1. Compound 2 has been characterized in solution by (1)H, (11)B, and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis, and the structural types were unequivocally established by crystallographic studies. The title compound represents a novel class of vertex-fused clusters in which a Mo atom has been fused in a perpendicular fashion between two molybdaborane clusters. Electronic structure calculations employing density functional theory yield geometries in agreement with the structure determinations, and on grounds of density functional theory calculations, we have analyzed the bonding patterns in the structure.

Pyrolysis of (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)WH(3))B(4)H(8), 1, in the presence of excess BHCl(2) x SMe(2) in toluene at 100 degrees C led to the isolation of (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)W)(2)B(5)H(9), 2, and B-Cl inserted (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)W)(2)B(5)H(8)Cl, 3, and (eta(5)-C(5)Me(5)W)(2)B(5)H(7)Cl(2), 4-7 (four isomers). All the chlorinated tungstaboranes were isolated as red and air and moisture sensitive solids. These new compounds have been characterized in solution by (1)H, (11)B, (13)C NMR, and the structural types were unequivocally established by crystallographic analysis of compounds 3, 4, and 7. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out on the model molecules of 3-7 to elucidate the actual electronic structures of these chlorinated species. On grounds of DFT calculations we demonstrated the role of transition metals, bridging hydrogens, and the effect of electrophilic substitution of hydrogens at B-H vertices of metallaborane structures.

The feasibility of using transition metal fragments to stabilize B2H4 in planar configuration by donating 2 electrons to the boron moiety is investigated. Building upon the existing theoretical and experimental data and aided by the isolobal analogy, the model transition metal complexes Cr(CO)4B2H4 (6), Mn(CO)CpB2H4 (7), Fe(CO)3B2H4 (8) and CoCpB2H4 (9) are chosen to illustrate this unique bonding feature--bond strengthening with π-back donation. Other possible types of complexes with B2H4 and the metal fragment are also explored and the energies are compared. One of the low energy isomers wherein the planar B2H4 interacts with the metal fragment in an in-plane fashion represents a unique case study for the Dewar-Chatt-Duncanson model. In this complex the back-donation from the metal fills the π bonding orbital between the two boron atoms thus forming a B=B double bond.

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