A Camouflaged Icosahedral Carborane: Dodecamethyl‐1,12‐dicarba‐<i>closo</i>‐dodecaborane(12) and Related Compounds

Abstract

Complete B-methylation is possible for 1,12-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane(12) derivatives that are substituted on one or both carbon atoms. Electrophilic substitution under harsh conditions affords rigid “hydrocarbon balls” in high yields. An example of these carboranes, the title compound (shown as a space-filling model on the right), has twelve methyl groups arranged in an icosahedral manner and supported on a carborane skeleton.