Abstract
Oxidation of hexahalogeno-closo-hexaborates [B 6 X 6 ]2 - , X = Cl, Br, I, with (NH 4 ) 2 [Ce(NO 3 ) 6 ] in ethanol yields coloured radical ions [B 6 X 6 ] - . X-ray structure determina tions have been performed on single crystals of (n-Bu 4 N)[B 6 Cl 6 ] (1) (monoclinic, space group P2 1 /c,a = 13.144(2),6 = 12.594(2),c = 17.688(5) Å, β = 107.29(2)°,Z=4),(n-Bu 4 N)[B 6 Br 6 ] (2) (monoclinic, space group P2 1 /c, a = 13.529(5), b = 13.096(5), c = 17.863(5) Å, β = 107.20(5)°, Z = 4) and (Ph 3 P=N=PPh 3 )[B 6 I 6 ] (3) (triclinic, space group P1̄, a = 9.3137(8), b = 10.6988(10), c = 11.8760 Å , a = 102.220(7), β = 99.34J(8), 7 = 96.030(7)°, Z = 1). The average B-B distances are nearly equal (1.733 Å (1), 1.728 Å (2), 1.728 Å (3)) while the B-X distances increase (1.762 Å (1), 1.912 Å (2), 2.120 Å (3)). Using the molecular parameters, normal coordinate analyses have been performed and a good agreement of observed and calculated frequencies of 10 B and 11 B labelled derivatives has been achieved. The valence force constants f d (BB) and f d (BX) of [B 6 X 6 ] - are 1.17 and 4.17 (X = Cl), 1.18 and 3.34 (Br) and 1.18 and 2.60 mdyn/Å (I), respectively.