Macropolyhedral boron-containing cluster chemistry: A novel triple-cluster structural motif. Isolation and characterisation of contiguous twenty-vertex [(PPh3)4ClPd4B16H17(PPh3)2]

Twenty-vertex [(PPh3)4ClPd4B16H17(PPh3)] (1),1 from the thermolysis of [(PPh3)2PdB8H12] (2)1 in refluxing toluene solution, followed by CH2Cl2 extraction, has a core nido five-vertex {Pd2B3} unit that has opposing triangular faces in common with an arachno ten-vertex {Pd2B8} unit and a nido eleven-vertex {Pd3B8} unit.