Synthesis of Amine Derivatives of the Polyhedral Borane Anion [B(20)H(18)](4)(-).

Ethylenediamine (en) reacts with the polyhedral borane anion [n-B(20)H(18)](2)(-), in the presence or absence of strong nonnucleophilic auxiliary bases, to produce the [ae-B(20)H(17)(en)](3)(-) anion. In either case, substitution is accompanied, to an approximately equal extent, by reduction of the starting material to form [a(2)()-B(20)H(18)](4)(-). As found with similar substituted systems derived from this 20-boron structure, [ae-B(20)H(17)(en)](3)(-) may be conveniently rearranged to the [a(2)()-B(20)H(17)(en)](3)(-) anion. A more convenient synthesis of the known [ae-B(20)H(17)NH(3)](3)(-) ion, which employs acetonitrile as the source of the NH(3) ligand instead of liquid ammonia, is also described.