Chemical bonding in the boron buckyball

A symmetry analysis of the valence shell in the boron buckyball B(80) shows a perfect match with the symmetry of the valence shell in C(60). The cap atoms participate in the bonding by 30 orbitals which transform as the sigma-bonds along the 6-6 edges. Far reaching consequences for chemical and physical properties of B(80), which until now only exists in silico, are expected. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.