The structure of [7,8-C2B9H12] -; correction of a popular misconception

Jill Buchanan, Ewan J. M. Hamilton, David Reed, Alan J. Welch*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The [7,8-C2B9H12]- ion has been shown, via n.m.r. spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic study, to contain an endo-H atom bonded to B(10) and not, as generally thought, a B-H-B bridge. Four ion pairs of [H(dmso)2][C2B9H12] (dmso = dimethyl sulphoxide) crystallise in a unit cell of dimensions a = 8.2919(14), b = 11.0802(21), c = 18.128(5)Å, β = 100.135(18)°, and space group P21/n. The structure has been refined to R = 0.0436, R′ = 0.0698 for 2 355 reflections measured at 185 ± 1 K. The presence of an endo-H atom in [7,8-C2B9H 12]- is rationalised by consideration of the form of the highest occupied molecular orbital of [7,8-C2B9H 11]2-. Analysis of the results of extended-Hückel molecular orbital calculations confirms that the endo-H atom bonds to the cage via a four-centre two-electron bond, and allows the relative magnitudes of endo and exo B-H coupling constants to be understood as well as the observation of weak coupling between the endo-H atom and B(9) and B(11).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)677-680
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of the Chemical Society, Dalton Transactions
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1990

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry

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