New Discoveries at the Interface of Boron and Carbon Chemistries

Abstract

Abstract:The continued growth of polyhedral borane chemistry is illustrated by the successful synthesis of [closo-B 12 with n = -2, -1, and 0. The loss of polyhedral electrons is compensated by back-bonding from the attached ether oxygen substituents. Structural comparisons are presented along with representative reaction chemistry. Derivatives that bear functional groups on the termini of the 12-fold set of substituents provide a vast array of potential applications. To distinguish these new polyfunctional icosahedral species from dendrimers, they have been designated as closomers.