The growth of cluster moieties containing main group and transition metal fragments have gained
enormous interest due to their numerous structural diversities.[1] In addition, the expansion of higher
vertex polyhedral boron clusters allows one to investigate unique bonding and their exceptionally largesize
electronic structures. Fehlner et al. showed two complementary approaches for the preparation of
metallaborane clusters from transition metal complexes. For example (i) condensation reaction involving
monoborane precursors (LiBH4∙thf, BH3∙thf or BHCl2∙SMe2, etc.; thf = tetrahydrofuran) and
cyclopentadienyl metal chlorides and (ii) insertion or fragmentation involving pre-assembled borane
fragments.[2]. However, unfortunately in most of the cases, these synthetic approaches end up resulting
in cluster fusion [3], instead of core expansion of a single cage cluster. In this seminar, the development of
more accessible routes to single-cage cluster growth from preformed metallaborane clusters as well as
preliminary result of my research work in this field will be discussed.
References:
[1]. (a) L. L. Little, G. D. Friesen, L. J. Todd, Inorg. Chem. 1977, 16, 869-872; (b) K. K. Chakrahari, S. Ghosh, J. Chem. Sci.
2011, 123, 847-851.
[2]. (a) T. P. Fehlner, Organometallics 2000, 19, 2643-2651; (b) S. Ghosh, T. P. Fehlner, B. C. Noll, Chem. Commun. 2005,
3080-3082.
[3]. (a) N. S. Hosmane, R. N. Grimes, Inorg. Chem. 1980, 19, 3482-3487; (b) M. Zafar, S. Kar, C. Nandi, R. Ramalakshmi, S
Ghosh, Inorg. Chem. 2019, 58, 47-51.