The synthesis and application of the first high voltage, non-corrosive, Mg battery electrolyte based on small carborane anions are reported. This electrolyte displays equal oxidative stability compared to its larger 12-vertex cousin, but is more cost effective to prepare.

The chemical reduction of reactive cations and comproportionation are two new strategies reported to produce halide free carborane based electrolytes for rechargeable Mg batteries.

A phosphine containing a 10-vertex carborane anion substituent and its subsequent ligation to a Rh(I) carbonyl complex is reported. The complex is characterized by NMR spectroscopy and a single crystal X-ray diffraction study. In addition, the inductive effects of both 10 and 12 vertex C-functionalized closo-carborane anions are elucidated via I.R. analysis of the CO stretching frequencies of two Rh carbonyl complexes. Unlike C-functionalized neutral o-carborane the 10 and 12-vertex carborane anions are both strong electron donor substituents.