Transition Metal Complexes of a Monocarba-closo-dodecaborate Ligand via B-H Activation

Rhodium- and palladium-induced B2-H activation of a derivative of the monocarba-closo-dodecaborate [CB11H12](-) afforded two new transition metal complexes of this cluster. The products were formed in high yields under mild conditions. The complexes were fully characterized by spectroscopic methods, X-ray crystallography, and computational analysis. The product from the reaction with rhodium was identified as a monomeric Rh-III complex, while B-H activation with palladium afforded a dimeric Pd-II structure. Acetate-mediated deprotonation-metalation is proposed as the mechanistic pathway.