Inchemistry, ametalloborane is a compound that contains one or more metal atoms and one or moreboron hydride. These compounds are related conceptually and often synthetically to theboron-hydride clusters by replacement of BHn units with metal-containing fragments. Often these metal fragments are derived frommetal carbonyls orcyclopentadienyl complexes. Their structures can often be rationalized bypolyhedral skeletal electron pair theory. The inventory of these compounds is large, and their structures can be quite complex.[2][3]
Two simple examples areB4H8Fe(CO)3 and B4H8Co(C5H5). The MB4 cores (M = Fe or Co) of these two compounds adopt structures expected for nido 5-vertex clusters. The iron compound is produced by reaction ofdiiron nonacarbonyl withpentaborane.B4H8Fe(CO)3 andcyclobutadieneiron tricarbonyl have similar structures.
Even greater in scope than metalloboranes aremetallacarboranes. These cages have carbon vertices, often CH, in addition to BH and M vertices.[2] A well-developed class of metallacarboranes are prepared fromdicarbollides, anions of the formula [C2B9H11]2-. These anions function as ligands for a variety of metals, often formingsandwich complexes.[5]
Some metalloboranes are derived by the metalation of neutralcarboranes. Illustrative are the six-and seven-vertex cages prepared fromcloso-C2B3H5. Reaction of this carborane with iron carbonyl sources givescloso Fe- and Fe2-containing products, according to these idealized equations:[6]
A further example of insertion into a closo carborane is the synthesis of the yellow-orange solid closo-1,2,3-(CO)3FeC2B4H6:
A closely related reaction involves the capping of an anionic nido carboraneC2B4H−7
The last reaction is worked up with acid and air.