Synthesis, molecular structure and reactivity of the dimethyl sulfide adduct of a 1,3,2-diselenaborolane with an annelated dicarba- closo-dodecaborane(12) unit

Abstract

The reaction of 1,2-diselenolato-1,2-dicarba- closo-dodecaborane(12) dianion [1,2-(1,2-C 2B 10H 10)Se 2] 2− with HBBr 2–SMe 2 affords the dimethyl sulfide adduct of 4,5-[1,2-dicarba- closo-dodecaborano(12)]-1,3-diselena-2-borolane in good yield. The molecular structure was determined by X-ray diffraction, and the solution-state structure was established by NMR spectroscopy ( 1H, 11B, 13C, 77Se NMR). 11B and 77Se chemical shifts were reproduced by DFT calculations. Attempts were made to abstract dimethyl sulfide, and the parent donor-free compound could be detected in solution. The reactivity of the title compound was studied towards pyridine, Me 3SnF, [Pt(PPh 3) 2(C 2H 4)], tert-Bu-OH, AlMe 3 and AlH 3-N(Et)Me 2 as well as a hydroborating reagent.