Reaction of [η1:η5-(Me2NCH2CH2)C2B9H10]TaMe3 with aryl isonitriles: tantallacarborane-mediated facile cleavage of C-N multiple bonds

Reaction of [eta(1):eta(5)-(Me2NCH2CH2)C2B9H10]TaMe3 with ArNC at room temperature gave the C-N bond cleavage products, and their type depends upon the aryl group and the amount of ArNC used. A reaction mechanism involving sequential methyl migratory insertion into the C-N multiple bond, followed by an isopropyl carbene insertion into the cage B-H bond, was proposed. All complexes were fully characterized including single-crystal X-ray analyses.