Synthesis and Characterization of Digerma‐<i>closo</i>‐dodecaborate: A Higher Homologue of Icosahedral <i>ortho</i>‐Carborane

Abstract

Missing link: Starting from germanium(II) bromide, decaborane, and triethylamine, a dimeric 2,2′-bis(1,2-digerma-closo-dodecaborate) was prepared. Reductive cleavage yielded the monomeric dianion [Ge2B10H10]2−. With alkyl halides, neutral disubstituted species were obtained (see example), which were fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The gap in the series of Group 14 di-hetero-closo-dodecaboranes is now closed.