CARBORANE

any member of a class of organometallic compounds having the general formula C2BnHn + 2, in which C, B, and H represent, respectively, carbon, boron, and hydrogen atoms and n an integer; carboranes with n ranging from 3 to 10 have been characterized. The carboranes have polyhedral molecular structures based on networks of boron and carbon atoms, the carbon atoms occupying adjacent positions. They are generally prepared by reaction of acetylene or acetylene derivatives with boron hydrides. The best-studied carborane is o-carborane, C2B10H12, made by reaction of acetylene with decaborane in the presence of diethyl sulfide. Its molecular structure resembles an icosahedron with the 10 boron atoms and 2 adjacent carbon atoms forming the apices.