SYNTHESIS, REACTIVITY AND THEORETICAL-STUDY OF B3H8- AND RELATED DERIVATIVES

Octahydrotriborate salts, B3H8- have been prepared by the reaction of NaBH4 with Lewis acids such as BX(3) . BDMA (BDMA = benzyldimethylamin e X = Cl,Br) or C2H5I in diglyme. The presence of BH3 . BDMA as a by-p roduct in the former reaction provides new insight into the reaction m echanism of B11H14- formation. In acetonitrile-water solutions of HCl or CH3CO2H, the B3H8- anion reacted to give B3H7CH3CN or B3H7CH3CO2- c haracterized by B-11 NMR spectroscopy. Their kinetic hydrolysis study was consistent with NMR analysis. Reaction of Bu(4)NB(3)H(8) and CuCl2 at 0 degrees C produced pure B3H6Cl2-. An AM1 theoretical study of th e substituted derivatives B(3)H(7)L (L = Cl- CH3CN, CH3CO2-, OH-) and B(3)H(6)L(2) (L = Cl-) is reported.