Tetra‐<i>tert</i>‐butyltetraboratetrahedrane

Abstract

B4tBu4 was synthesized by reduction of tBuBF2 with Na/K alloy. An X-ray structure analysis revealed a tetrahedral structure (see figure) whose B4C4 geometry deviates only slightly from an ideal tetrahedron. In spite of strained B-B bonds and relatively small steric shielding of the B4 backbone, which is larger than the C4 backbone of C4tBu4, this organoboron compound is astonishingly inert.