CARBORANYL DERIVATIVES OF MERCURY AND THALLIUM AS SYNTHONS FOR BORON-SUBSTITUTED CARBORANES

Carboranyl derivatives of mercury and thallium have been obtained by mercuration and thallation of carbones (12) in the 9 position of the carborane cage. The substitution of metal atom in boron-mercurated and boron-thallated carboranes allowed a great variety of B(9)-substituted carboranes to be prepared. The previously unknown carboran-9-yl derivatives of nontransition metals, 9-fluoro-, 9-thiocyano-, 9-trifluoroacetoxy-carboranes, bis(carboran-9-yl) diselenides and bis(carboran 9-yl) tellurides as well as the known 9-hydroxy-, 9-mercapto- and 9-iodocarboranes were synthesized. In many cases, the reactions occur under radical conditions (photolysis, pyrolysis) to give B(9)-centered radicals which undergo further transformation.