The synthesis and characterization of two new 19-vertex metallaborane clusters: [B18H20Ni(η5-C5H5)]−1 and [B18H19(2-THF)Ni(η5-C5H5)]

Two new 19-vertex metallaboranes, [B18H20Ni(η5-C5H5)][N(CH3)4] and [B18H19(2-THF)Ni(η5-C5H5)], were isolated from the reaction of anti-B18H22 with nickelocene, [Ni(η5-C5H5)2], in high yields. The complexes were characterized by multinuclear NMR (1H, 13C, 11B), IR and UV–vis spectroscopy. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses of these new complexes confirmed their structures as 19-vertex conjuncto-metallaborane clusters.