Donor-acceptor "dressing" of "naked" group 13-15 cubanes.

The structures and stability of the group 13-15 inorganic cubane clusters, stabilized by donor-acceptor interactions, are theoretically explored at the B3LYP/TZVP level of theory. [DMYA](4) compounds (M, Y = group 13 and 15 elements; D, A = donor and acceptor molecules NH(3) and BH(3), respectively) are predicted to be true minima on the potential energy surface. It is shown that donor-acceptor "dressing" significantly stabilizes "naked" [MY](4) cubanes. Possible synthetic approaches and potential uses of these novel [DMYA](4) compounds as single-source precursors to group 13-15 materials are discussed.