Metallaborane reaction chemistry. Part 12. Some interactions of acetylenes and isocyanides with selected metallaboranes

Compared to the chemistry associated with the basic syntheses and structures of the metallaboranes, their reaction chemistry is relatively uninvestigated. To illustrate the potential variety of such reaction chemistry, a linked overview of some previously reported and previously unreported reactions of the nido-6-metalladecaboranes [(PPh3)2HIrB9H13], [(PPh3)(Ph2PC6H4)HIrB9H12], [(η6-C6Me6)RuB9H13], [(η6-MeC6H4isoPr)RuB9H13][(η6-MeC6H4isoPr)RuB9H13] and [(η5-C5Me5)RhB9H13] with acetylenes and isocyanides is presented, together with some related chemistry derived from the arachno-type 4-metallanonaboranes [(PMe2Ph)2PtB8H12] and [(PMe3)2(CO)HIrB8H12]. Reductions, oligomerisations, and reductive oligomerisations of the unsaturated species are observed, as well as complete or partial incorporation of carbon and nitrogen hetero atoms into the metallaborane clusters.1

Graphical abstractAn overview of reactions of acetylenes and isocyanides with metallaboranes of general type {MB9H13} and {MB8H12} is presented. Reductions, oligomerisations, reductive oligomerisations, and complete or partial cluster-incorporation of the unsaturated species have been observed.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide