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The first example of a homometallic neutral zirconaborane, [(Cp2Zr)2B5H11], 1, has been prepared through the thermolysis of [Cp2Zr(BH4)2], generated from the fast metathesis reaction of [Cp2ZrCl2] and LiBH4·thf with BH3·thf. The solid-state structure of 1 shows an open geometry with a planar B3 ring. The bonding between the Zr center and the central B3 ring was studied computationally by DFT methods, and based on the combined experimental and computational results compound 1 can be defined as a metal-stabilized arachno-B3H9. Further, in an attempt to synthesize a hybrid analogue of 1 by introducing two electron fragments into arachno-[(Cp2Zr)(Cp*Ir)B4H10], 2, we have performed the reaction of 2 with [Ru3(CO)12]. However, the reaction led to the formation of a hybrid metallaborane, [(Cp*Ir){Ru3(CO)8}B4H10], 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal assisted borane condensationmethod has been employed forthe preparation of novel metallaborane cluster containing group 4metal. Pyrolysis of [Cp*IrB3H9], 1, with in situ generated zirconium bisborohydrate [Cp2Zr(BH4)2], produced from the fast metathesisreaction of [Cp2ZrCl2] and LiBH4,and excess of BH3·THF yielded arachno-[(Cp2Zr)(Cp*Ir)B4H10], 2, in 56% yield. Compound 2constitutes the first crystallographicstructure determination of hexaborane(12) metal analogue containingzirconium. The observed geometry of 2can be generatedfrom a dodecahedron by removing two vertices and an edge. Anticipatinga straight metal fragment substitution/addition reaction, mild thermolysisof 2with [Fe2(CO)9] was carriedout. However, the reaction led to the formation of known trimetallic[Cp*IrFe2(CO)9] cluster via cluster degradation.In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations have beencarried out for 2and other hypothetical early–latecombinations of hexaborane(12) metal analogues to reveal the electronicstructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]