GROUP 4 DERIVATIVES OF PENTABORANE(9)

Compounds having the general formula μ-R3MIVB3H3 (where MIV = Si, Ge, Sn, or Pb, and R = H, CH3, and C2H5) are formed in the low-temperature reaction of LiB5H8 with halo derivatives of appropriate group IV moieties. Several of these bridge-substituted pentaborane(9) derivatives isomerize to terminal- (2-) substituted derivatives in the presence of weak Lewis bases. Spectral evidence suggests that, in the bridge-substituted derivatives, the group IV moiety is bonded to the two adjacent boron atoms by a three-center, two-electron bond. © 1968, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.