Pure and Applied Chemistry

Abstract: In contrast to reactions that have been observed in traditional organic solvents, decaborane olefin-hydroboration and alkyne-insertion reactions proceed in ionic liquid (IL) solvents without the need of a catalyst. These reactions now provide important new, high-yield synthetic pathways to functionalized decaborane and ortho-carborane clusters. As illustrated by the synthesis of n-B₁₈H₂₂, ILs can also provide an inert reaction medium for carrying out dehydrocondensation reactions leading to higher fused cage compounds.