Chemistry related to cluster-borane analogues of the cyclopentadienide anion and ferrocene: New developments

A review on cluster-borane analogues of the cyclopentadienide anion (Cp) and ferrocene is presented. Analogues of Cp that have been so far isolated and characterised are the 11-vertex triheteroboranes of general structure [nido-E3B8H8]− (where E = CH or P and their combinations), the molecules of which contain an open pentagonal face. These anions were used as effective ligands for the preparation of “half- and full-sandwich” complexes [CpFeE3B8H8] and [Fe(E3B8H8)2], respectively – analogues of ferrocene. Developments in this area of cluster-borane chemistry that include recent results in the synthesis and Fe-complexation reactions of 11-vertex tricarbaboranes (tricarbollides), phosphadicarbollides, and diphosphacarbollides are the subject of this work.