Cyclodimerization of isocyanates promoted by one large vertex metallaborane

The 10-vertex Manganese-decaborane [nido-6-Mn(CO)3B9H13][NMe4] was found to act as an efficient catalyst for isocyanate cyclodimerization under photo-irradiation conditions. The reaction yields were comparable with other metal catalyst reported in literature. One of the products was characterized by X-ray crystallographic study and reaction mechanism was also proposed. The results are very encouraging as they represent first examples of a large metallaborane compound to catalyze the cyclodimerization of isocyanates.30