B–C activation in highly alkylated carborane monoanions partnered with cationic transition metal fragments: observations and comments

Cage decomposition products of the highly methylated, weakly coordinating, carborane anion [1-H-closo-CB11Me11]− are described. These arise both from well-defined metal complexes of [1-H-closo-CB11Me11]− that already have BCH3⋯[M] interactions and from attempts to partner this anion with other metal centres. In all cases the decomposition results in B–CH3 bond cleavage and solvent activation to form products with B–aryl or B–Cl vertices.