Borane reaction chemistry. Alkyne insertion reactions into boron-containing clusters. Products from the thermolysis of [6,9-(2-HC[triple bond]C-C5H4N)2-arachno-B10H12].

The stirring of [ortho-(HC[triple bond]C)-C(5)H(4)N] with [nido-B(10)H(14)] in benzene affords [6,9-{ortho-(HC[triple bond]C)-C(5)H(4)N}(2)-arachno-B(10)H(12)] 1 in 93% yield. In the solid state, 1 has an extended complex three-dimensional structure involving intramolecular dihydrogen bonding, which accounts for its low solubility. Thermolysis of 1 gives the known [1-(ortho-C(5)H(4)N)-1,2-closo-C(2)B(10)H(11)] 2 (13%), together with new [micro-5(N),6(C)-(NC(5)H(4)-ortho-CH(2))-nido-6-CB(9)H(10)] 3 (0.4%), [micro-7(C),8(N)-(NC(5)H(4)-ortho-CH(2))-nido-7-CB(10)H(11)] (0.4%) , 4 binuclear [endo-6'-(closo-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10))-micro-(1(C),exo-6'(N))-(ortho-C(5)H(4)N)-micro-(exo-8'(C),exo-9'(N))-(ortho-(CH(2)CH(2))-C(5)H(4)N)-arachno-B(10)H(10)] (0.5%) 5, and [exo-6(C)-endo-6(N)-(ortho-(CH[double bond]CH)-C(5)H(4)N)-exo-9(N)-(ortho-(HC[triple bond]C)-C(5)H(4)N)-arachno-B(10)H(11)] 6. An improved solvent-free route to 2 is also presented. This set of compounds features an increasing cluster incorporation of the ethynyl moiety, initially by an effective internal hydroboration, affording an arachno to nido and then a nido to arachno:closo sequence of cluster geometry. An alternative low-temperature route to internal hydroboration is demonstrated in the room temperature reaction of [closo-B(11)H(11)][N(n)Bu(4)](2) with CF(3)COOH and [ortho-(HC[triple bond]C)-C(5)H(4)N], which gives [micro-1(C),2(B)-[ortho-C(5)H(4)N-CH(2)]-closo-1-CB(11)H(10)] 7 (40%) in which one carbon atom is incorporated into the cluster; a similar reaction with [ortho-(N[triple bond]C)-C(5)H(4)N] affords [N(n)Bu(4)][7-(ortho-N[triple bond]C-C(5)H(4)N)-nido-B(11)H(12)], 8 (68%) and stirring [ortho-(N[triple bond]C)-C(5)H(4)N] with [nido-B(10)H(14)] quantitatively affords the cyano analogue of 1, [6,9-{ortho-(N[triple bond]C)-C(5)H(4)N}(2)-arachno-B(10)H(12)] 9. All compounds were characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and NMR spectroscopy.

Dimethylsulfide-dicarbaborane chemistry. Isolation and characterisation of isomers [9-(SMe2)-nido-7,8-C2B9H10-X-Me] (where X = 1, 2, 3 and 4) and some related compounds. An unusual skeletal rearrangement.

Oxidative coupling by FeCl(3) of the [nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11)-9-Me](-) anion 1a with SMe(2) yields a mixture of four isomers of 9-(SMe(2))-nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10)-X-Me, where X = 1, 2, 3 and 4 (compounds 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d respectively). On high dilution of the reaction mixture, the 9-(SMe(2))-nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10)-10-Me 2e isomer is also isolated in a low yield. The isomers are separated by HPLC, and are identified and characterised by NMR spectroscopy and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of 2c and 2d. The formation of the products implies an unexpected cluster rearrangement, which is discussed in terms of dsd and vertex-flip reaction pathways. Two additional isomers, 9-(SMe(2))-nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10)-5-Me 2f and 9-(SMe(2))-nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10)-6-Me 2g occur when [nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11)-5-Me](-) 1b is used as the starting substrate, in a reaction in which no cluster rerarrangement is observed. The corresponding bromide, [nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(11)-5-Br](-) 1c, behaves similarly, forming only 9-(SMe(2))-nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10)-5-Br 2h and 9-(SMe(2))-nido-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10)-6-Br 2i.

Polyhedral metallaheteroborane chemistry. Synthesis, spectroscopy, structure and dynamics of eleven-vertex {RhNB(9)} and {PtCB(9)} metallaheteroboranes.

Reaction between [RhCl(PPh(3))(3)] and the [nido-6-NB(9)H(11)](-) anion in CH(2)Cl(2) yields orange eleven-vertex [8,8-(PPh(3))(2)-nido-8,7-RhNB(9)H(11)]. Reaction of the [nido-6-CB(9)H(12)](-) anion with [cis-PtCl(2)(PMe(2)Ph)(2)] in methanol affords yellow eleven-vertex [9-(OMe)-8,8-(PMe(2)Ph)(2)-nido-8,7-PtCB(9)H(10)], which is also formed from the reaction of MeOH with [8,8-(PPh(3))(2)-nido-8,7-PtCB(9)H(10)]. Both compounds have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and examined by NMR spectroscopy and have structures based on eleven-vertex nido-type geometries, with the metal centre and the heteroatoms in the adjacent (8)- and (7)-positions on the pentagonal open face. The metal-to-heteroborane bonding sphere of is fluxional, with a DeltaG(double dagger) value of 48.4 kJ mol(-1). DFT calculations on the model compounds [8,8-(PH(3))(2)-nido-8,7-RhNB(9)H(11)] and [8,8-(PH(3))(2)-nido-8,7-RhSB(9)H(10)] have been carried out to define the fluxional process and the intermediates involved.

Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry. The reaction of B16H20 and B14H18 with [PtMe2(PMe2Ph)2] to give [(PMe2Ph)2PtB16H17Me] and [(PMe2Ph)2PtB14H16].

Structurally characterised 17-vertex [(PMe2Ph)2PtB16H17Me] 3 is obtained, albeit in low yield, by platination of 16-vertex B16H20 1 using [PtMe2(PMe2Ph)2] under mild conditions. Platination has occurred on the {B10} subcluster of 1, interesting in that B16H20 itself deprotonates on the {B8} subcluster: the reference 16-vertex [B16H19]- anion 1a, prepared by deprotonation of 1 with 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene, is also structurally characterised. [PtMe2(PMe2Ph)2] with 14-vertex B14H18 2 similarly gives a low yield of 15-vertex [(PMe2Ph)2PtB14H16] 5, of formulation and structure substantiated by DFT calculations.

Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry. Synchrotron X-ray structural analysis of [(PMe2Ph)2Pd2B16H20(PMe2Ph)2] and [(PMe2Ph)3Pt2B16H18(PMe2Ph)]: models of intermediates to more condensed metallaboranes from the [(PMe2Ph)2PtB8H12] thermolysis system.

Thermolyses of [(PMe2Ph)2PdB8H12] and [(PMe2Ph)2PtB8H12] respectively yield eighteen-vertex [(PMe2Ph)2Pd2B16H20(PMe2Ph)2] and [(PMe2Ph)3Pt2B16H18(PMe2Ph)], which exhibit structure models for probable successive precursive intermediates for the more condensed macropolyhedral metallaboranes [(PMe2Ph)4Pt3B14H16], [(PMe2Ph)2Pt2B12H16] and [(PMe2Ph)2Pt2B16H15(C6H4Me)(PMe2Ph)] that have previously been reported as products from [(PMe2Ph)2PdB8H12] thermolyses.

Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry. Ligand-induced two-electron variations of intercluster bonding intimacy. Structures of nineteen-vertex [(eta5-C5Me5)HIrB18H19(PMe2Ph)] and the related carbene complex [(eta5-C5Me5)HIrB18H19[C(NHMe)2]].

Addition of PMe2Ph to fused-cluster syn-[(eta5-C5Me5)IrB18H20] 1 to give [(eta5-C5Me5)HIrB18H19(PMe2Ph)] 3 entails a diminution in the degree of intimacy of the intercluster fusion, rather than retention of inter-subcluster binding intimacy and a nido-->arachno conversion of the character of either of the subclusters. Reaction with MeNC gives [(eta5-C5Me5)HIrB18H19[C(NHMe)2]] 4 which has a similar structure, but with the ligand now being the carbene [:C(NHMe)2], resulting from a reductive assembly reaction involving two MeNC residues and the loss of a carbon atom.

Titanocene dichloride route to a tetranuclear oxo-bridged monocyclopentadienyl titanium(IV) calix[4]arene complex.

Lithiation of p-tBu-calix[4]arene followed by reaction with titanocene dichloride affords a novel tetranuclear titanium(IV) monocyclopentadienyl complex, wherein a single calix[4]arene in a cone conformation provides O-phenoxy coordination to four titanium atoms, with additional mu-oxo bridging between titanium centres in an eight membered ring.

Monocarbaborane anion chemistry. An interesting encapsulation of the Pd2I2(P(C6H(4)-4-Me)3)4]2+ cation by a pair of [PhCB9H4I(C6H4Me)4]- anions.

Reaction of the [1-Ph-closo-1-CB9H(4)-6,7,8,9,10-I5]- anion with 4-MeC6H4MgBr in the presence of [PdCl2(PPh3)2] gives the [Pd2I2(P(C6H(4)-4-Me)3)4]2+ salt of the [1-Ph-closo-1-CB9H(4)-10-I-6,7,8,9-(C6H(4)-4-Me)4]- anion, which exhibits an unusual neutral supramolecular assembly in the solid state, in which the dipalladium dication is encapsulated by two four-armed 'tetrapus' anionic units; the anion also has potentialities for four-fold dendrimer construction.

Novel synthesis of fused isoxazolidines via a palladium catalysed allene insertion-intramoleculer 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition cascade reaction.

A one pot, three component palladium catalysed allenation of aryl iodides, in combination with a nitrone cycloaddition, leads to formation of fused isoxazolidines, creating two rings, two stereocentres and one tetrasubstituted carbon centre.

Structural chemistry of arachno-nonaboranes.

Single-crystal conventional-tube and synchrotron X-ray diffraction studies of the anions in [NMe(4)][arachno-B(9)H(12)-4,8-Br(2)] 1 and K[arachno-B(9)H(14)] 2, and also of the series of adducts [arachno-B(9)H(13)-4-L], where L is P(CCH)(3) (3), NHEt(2) (4), NC(5)H(5) (5), or NH(2)CH(2)Ph (6), are reported. Structural studies of 1-6, determined at low temperatures, located all atoms, including bridging and endo-terminal hydrogen atoms. The basic boron-hydride clusters of these, and of all the other known species with the arachno nine-vertex i-nonanborane geometry reported in the literature, are isostructural and feature three bridging and two endo-terminal hydrogen atoms on the open face. This arrangement is different from that previously reported for Cs[arachno-B(9)H(14)] 7 and for [arachno-B(9)H(13)-4-(NCMe)] 9. However, a new X-ray diffraction data set and refinement experimentally confirm the [3 x mu-H, 2 x endo] arrangement for 9 also. The experimental results for 1-6 support recently reported calculations for [B(9)H(14)](-), which predict both the structures and the (11)B NMR chemical shifts. These conclusions are also supported by calculations for 3, 4, and 9 and also for the [arachno-B(9)H(13)-4-(NCS)](-) anion in [NMe(4)][B(9)H(13)(NCS)] 8.

Synthesis and structural studies of 1,1'-bis-amino-functionalized ferrocenes, ferrocene salts, and ferrocenium salts.

Having isolated and characterized a series of sodium cyclopentadienide salts, we have synthesized a number of 1,1'-bis-amino-functionalized ferrocenes, 1,1'-bis-amino-functionalized ferrocene salts, and 1,1'-bis-amino-functionalized ferrocenium salts. Among these are the first crystallographically characterized examples of cyclopentadienyl units containing (piperidin-N-ylethyl)- and (pyrid-2-ylmethyl)cyclopentadienyl side chains. In the cases of some of the ferrocenes, ferrocene salts, and ferrocenium salts, there are some interesting structural features in the solid state. These include C-H...N and C-H...pi cloud interactions as well as N-H...O and N-H...F hydrogen bonds.

Bis[2-(pyrazol-3-yl)phenolato-kappa2N2,O]copper(II) dimethanol solvate.

The title compound, [Cu(C9H7N2O)2]*2CH3OH, contains a crystallographically centrosymmetric near-regular square planar Cu(II) centre with trans-disposed chelating ligands. The complex molecules associate into a one-dimensional polymeric chain via hydrogen bonding to the solvent molecules.