David M. Schubert

Crystalline Alcoholamine Borates and the Triborate Monoanion

The triborate and pentaborate compounds 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropylammonium triborate(1+), [HOCH2C(CH3)2NH3][B3O3(OH)4] (1), and 2-hydroxyethylammonium pentaborate(1-), [HOCH2CH2NH3][B5O6(OH)4].H2O (2), were prepared by crystallization from concentrated aqueous boric acid solutions containing the respective alcoholamines at a boric acid-alcoholamine mole ratio of 3.33:1.00. Compound 1 crystallized in the triclinic space group P1 with a = 5.9595(9) A, b = 6.3024(9) A, c = 15.594(2) A, alpha = 91.218(2) degrees , beta = 91.138(2) degrees , gamma = 118.034(2) degrees , V = 516.56(13) A (3), and Z = 2; 2 crystallized in the monoclinic space group P2 1/ n with a = 11.2469(8) A, b = 9.5091(6) A, c = 11.5422(8) A, beta = 90.175(1) degrees , V = 1234.41(15) A (3), and Z = 4. Compound 1 contains a rare example of a structurally characterized hydroxyl-hydrated triborate monoanion. Comparisons are made with other known examples of this anion.

The Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Carborane Derivatives Containing Main Group and f-Block Elements

Abstract The synthesis, X-ray structural characterization, and reactivity of a number of novel metallacarborane compounds including those that exhibit η5-dicarbollide ligands bound to aluminum, silicon, and 4f-block elements are discussed. These compounds include the first sandwich compounds to contain main group elements in their highest formal oxidation states, [commo-3, 3′-M(3,1, 2-MC2B9H11)2]n (M = Al, n = -1; M = Si, n = 0), and the first examples of lanthanacarboranes, closo-C2B9H11Ln (THF)4 (Ln = Sm, Yb) and [3,3-(THF)2-commo-3,3′-Sm(3,1,2-SmC2B9H11)2]-.

Solid-State Synthesis and Structure of the Enigmatic Ammonium Octaborate: (NH4)2[B7O9(OH)5]·3/4B(OH)3·5/4H2O

The compound known since the 19th century as ammonium octaborate was structurally characterized revealing the ammonium salt of the ribbon isomer of the heptaborate anion, [B7O9(OH)5](2-), with boric acid and water molecules. Of composition (NH4)2B7.75O12.63·4.88H2O, it approximates the classical ammonium octaborate composition (NH4)2B8O13·6H2O and has the structural formula {(NH4)2[B7O9(OH)5]}4·3B(OH)3·5H2O. It spontaneously forms at room temperature in solid-state mixtures of ammonium tetraborate and ammonium pentaborate. It crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with a = 11.4137(2) Å, b = 11.8877(2) Å, c = 23.4459(3) Å, β = 90.092(1)°, V = 3181.19(8) Å(3), and Z = 2 and contains well-ordered ammonium cations and [B7O9(OH)5](2-) anions and disordered B(OH)3 and H2O molecules linked by extensive H bonding. Expeditious solid-state formation of the heptaborate anion under ambient conditions has important implications for development of practical syntheses of industrially useful borates.

Structure and Properties of Sodium Enneaborate, Na2[B8O11(OH)4]·B(OH)3·2H2O

Millions of tons of sodium borates are used annually by global industries in diverse applications important to modern society. The Na2O-B2O3-H2O phase diagram in the 0-100 °C temperature range contains 13 unique hydrated crystalline sodium borates, including five important industrial products. Structures were previously reported for each of these except for that having the highest boron content, known as sodium enneaborate, Na4B18O29·11H2O or 2Na2O·9B2O3·11H2O (1). Here we report the single-crystal structure of 1, revealing the structural formula Na2[B8O11(OH)4]·B(OH)3·2H2O, and describe some of its properties and relationships to other sodium borates. The structure of 1 features linear polyborate chains composed of the repeating [B8O11(OH)4]2- fundamental building blocks with interstitial water and boric acid molecules integrated by extensive H bonding. Interstitial sodium cations occur in groups of four with interatomic distances of 3.7830(6) and 3.7932(8) Å. Upon heating, 1 initially becomes amorphous and then crystallizes as α-Na2B8O13 along with amorphous B2O3. Notably, α-Na2B8O13 contains octaborate fundamental building blocks that are topologically equivalent to those in 1. Compound 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 10.2130(8) Å, b = 12.940(1) Å, c = 12.457(1) Å, β = 93.070(2)°, V = 1644.0(2) Å3, and Z = 2.