An efficient synthesis of 12-vertex closo-rhodacarboranes [3-(η5-C5Me5)-1-R1-2-R2-3,1,2-closo-RhC2B9H9] (R1, R2 = H, Alk) via two-step reactions of [K][7-R1-8-R2-7,8-nido-C2B9H10] mono-anions with [Rh2(η5-C5Me5)2Cl4]: structural characterization of th

An efficient two-step reaction of the salts [K][7-R1-8-R2-7,8-nido-R2C2B9H10] with [Rh2(η5-Cp∗)2Cl4] affords closo complexes [3-(η5-Cp∗)-1-R1-2-R2-3,1,2-closo-RhC2B9H9], of which one is the first 12-vertex closo-type metallacarborane species bearing sterically demanding C,C′-dibenzylsubstituted carborane ligand; the first step ionic intermediates, [(η5-Cp∗)Rh(μ-Cl)3Rh(η5-Cp∗)][7,8- R2-7,8-nido-C2B9H10], were isolated and the crystal structure of one representative (R1 = R2 = PhCH2) has been determined by an X-ray diffraction study.