Alkoxy Derivatives of Dodecaborate: Discrete Nanomolecular Ions with Tunable Pseudometallic Properties

Twelve of one, a dozen of the other: Synthetic pseudometallic molecules were prepared by fully substituting the [B12H12]2− ion with 12 alkoxy groups. Reversible redox reactions reveal substituent-dependent potentials varying over 1.2 V (see picture) which were characterized and correlated using Hammett and QSAR linear free-energy relationships.