Metallaboranes

Metallaboranes are a class of organometallic compounds containing boron and metal atoms. They are often considered extensions of boranes, which are simple compounds of boron and hydrogen, where one or more carbon atoms are replaced by a metal atom or a metal-containing fragment. These structures can exhibit a wide range of shapes and bonding arrangements, often conforming to Wade's rules or similar skeletal electron counting principles.

The synthesis of metallaboranes typically involves reactions between boranes or carboranes with metal precursors. These reactions can lead to the formation of clusters with varying nuclearities and compositions. The metal atom can be incorporated into the cluster framework or act as a vertex, bridging two or more boron atoms.

Metallaboranes have attracted interest due to their unique electronic properties and potential applications. Some have been investigated for their catalytic activity, while others have shown promise in materials science. Their structural diversity and tunable electronic properties make them interesting subjects for fundamental chemical research. The precise bonding and electronic structure of metallaboranes are often complex and are studied using techniques such as X-ray crystallography and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy.