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Concept
Decaborane
Summary
Decaborane, also called decaborane(14), is the borane with the chemical formula B10H14. This white crystalline compound is one of the principal boron hydride clusters, both as a reference structure and as a precursor to other boron hydrides. It is toxic and volatile, giving off a foul odor, like that of burnt rubber or chocolate.
The physical characteristics of decaborane(14) resemble those of naphthalene and anthracene, all three of which are volatile colorless solids. Sublimation is the common method of purification. Decaborane is highly flammable, but, like other boron hydrides, it burns with a bright green flame. It is not sensitive to moist air, although it hydrolyzes in boiling water, releasing hydrogen and giving a solution of boric acid. It is soluble in cold water as well as a variety of non-polar and moderately polar solvents.
In decaborane, the B10 framework resembles an incomplete octadecahedron. Each boron has one "radial" hydride, and four boron atoms near the open part of the cluster feature extra hydrides. In the language of cluster chemistry, the structure is classified as "nido".
It is commonly synthesized via the pyrolysis of smaller boron hydride clusters. For example, pyrolysis of B2H6 or B5H9 gives decaborane, with loss of H2. On a laboratory scale, sodium borohydride is treated with boron trifluoride to give NaB11H14, which is acidified to release borane and hydrogen gas.
It reacts with Lewis bases (L) such as CH3CN and Et2S, to form adducts:
B10H14 + 2 L → B10H12L2 + H2
These species, which are classified as "arachno" clusters, in turn react with acetylene to give the "closo" ortho-carborane:
B10H12·2L + C2H2 → C2B10H12 + 2 L + H2
Decaborane(14) is a weak Brønsted acid. Monodeprotonation generates the anion [B10H13]−, with again a nido structure.
In the Brellochs reaction, decaborane is converted to arachno-CB9H14−:
B10H14 + CH2O + 2 OH− + H2O → CB9H14− + B(OH)4− + H2
Decaborane has no significant applications, although the compound has often been investigated.
Official source
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