Potential uses of metallocarborane sandwich anions for analysis, characterization and isolation of various cations and organic bases

Abstract

Unique properties of metallocarborane sandwich anions of the type [(C 2 B 9 H 11 ) 2 M(III)] - as chemical stability, specific reactivity, very strong acidity of conjugated acids along with an extreme organophility of their salts and a very limited solubility of the salts with organic cations in water are discussed. The application of metallocarboranes to analysis, characterization and isolation of organic bases, including alkaloids, amino acids, amides, etc. , from very diluted water solutions is suggested and demonstrated on some examples.