Unusual Rearrangement of Naphthalene in the Synthesis of a Novel B8-B8-Bridged Derivative in the [(1,2-C2B9H11)2-3-Co]- Series. X-Ray Structure and 11B NMR Spectra of [8,8'-μ-(CH2-C9H6)-(1,2-C2B9H10)2-3-Co]- (CH3)4N+

Abstract

On treatment of the [(1,2-C2B9H11)2Co]- ion with naphthalene in presence of AlCl3 a remarkably bridged [8,8'-μ-(CH2-C9H6)-(1,2-C2B9H10)2-3-Co]- ion is obtained as a single isolated compound. The triatomic -CH2-C9H6- bridge is derived from the rearranged naphthalene nucleus. The mechanism of this reaction is obscure but it does resemble the "Electrophile-Induced Nucleophilic Substitution" reported earlier. The structure of the compound was established by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and by single crystal X-ray diffraction.