Rings on Carboranes

Significance

The benzyne equivalent of carborane, carboryne, has been shown previously to form complexes with nickel that undergo stoichiometric [2+2+2] reactions. This catalytic process now allows researchers to make quantities of these interesting materials. The structures produced are electronically interesting delocalized systems that are potential building blocks for electrooptic materials. With unsymmetrical (R^¹ = Alk, R^² = Ar) acetylenes the products were regiospecific. The authors also make use of a stable in situ generated carboryne precursor.