Full Electron Delocalization across the Cluster in 1,12-bisBMes2- p-carborane Radical Anion

J Am Chem Soc. 2024 Jul 3;146(26):17956-17963. doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c03873. Epub 2024 Jun 8.

Abstract

Conjugation between three-dimensional (3D) carboranes and the attached substituents is commonly believed to be very weak. In this paper, we report that reducing 1,12-bis(BMes2)-p-carborane (B2pCab) with one electron gives a radical anion with a centrosymmetric semiquinoidal structure. This radical anion shows extensive electron delocalization between the two boron centers over the p-carborane bridge due to the overlap of carborane lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and the BMes2 LUMO. Unlike dianions of other C2B10H12 carboranes, which rearrange to a nido-form, two-electron reduction of B2pCab leads to a rearrangement into a basket-shaped intermediate.