Unusual cationic tris(dimethylsulfide)-substituted closo-boranes: preparation and characterization of [1,7,9-(Me2S)3-B12H9] BF4 and [1,2,10-(Me2S)3-B10H7] BF4.

Rational syntheses of trisubstituted sulfur-bearing closo-boranes are presented. In the development of these syntheses unusual cationic closo-boranes [1,7,9-(Me(2)S)(3)-B(12)H(9)](+) (3) and [1,2,10-(Me(2)S)(3)-B(10)H(7)](+) (4) have been identified. These were initially recognized to be intermediates in the formation of the neutral trisubstituted species 1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)-9-(MeS)-B(12)H(9) (1) and 1,10-(Me(2)S)(2)-2-(MeS)-B(10)H(7) (2), respectively. Stable tetrafluoroborate salts were prepared and isolated, and their structures are presented. They are believed to represent the first structural determinations of cationic borane clusters of any type.

Synthesis of mono- and dihalogenated derivatives of (Me2S)2B12H10 and palladium-catalyzed boron-carbon cross-coupling reactions of the iodides with grignard reagents.

Two series of compounds, 9-X-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9) and 9,10-X(2)-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(8) (X = Cl, Br, I), have been synthesized from reactions of 1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(10) with various halogenating reagents. In addition, reactions of 1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(10) with 2,4-(NO(2))(2)C(6)H(3)SCl and PhSeBr resulted in 9-(2',4'-(NO(2))(2)C(6)H(3)S)-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9) and 9,10-(PhSe)(2)-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(8), respectively. X-ray studies of the dibromo, monoiodo, and aryl thioether derivatives show that electrophilic substitution in 1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(10) takes place at positions 9 and 10, as in the case of the meta-carborane 1,7-C(2)B(10)H(12). From 1,12-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(10) the halides 2-X-1,12-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9) (X = Br, I) were prepared. For both 1,7- and 1,12-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(10) the best iodination results were obtained using iodine monochloride in refluxing acetonitrile. In the presence of 5 mol % (PPh(3))(2)PdCl(2) the iodides 9-I-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9), 2-I-1,12-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9), and 9,10-I(2)-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(8) react with RMgX (R = Me, Ph, Bn; X = Cl, Br) in THF to yield the corresponding B-alkyl- and B-aryl-substituted products in good yields without using CuI as a cocatalyst. The bromo derivative 9-Br-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9) did not react under similar conditions. No interference from the nearby Me(2)S substituent was observed in palladium-catalyzed substitution of iodide in 2-I-1,12-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9). Presumably due to the intramolecular activation of an aryl C-H bond of the benzyl substituent in the intermediate palladium complex, the yield of 9,10-Bn(2)-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(8) was significantly lower than those of the dimethyl and diphenyl derivatives. The molecular structures of 9-R-1,7-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9) (R = Ph, Bn) and 2-Bn-1,12-(Me(2)S)(2)B(12)H(9) were obtained by single-crystal X-ray analysis.