Structures and Syntheses of Carboranes

Following a discussion of bonding, the structures of the known carboranes of the clovo type and of the incompletely condensed types are described; the recently discovered carboranes with high carbon contents, such as tetracarbahexaborane (“boracarbane”) are also discussed. The preparation of carboranes from polyboranes and the possibility of obtaining organo carboranes from organoboranes are then described. Some rearrangements which take place within the carborane skeleton are also mentioned.