Distorted benzene bearing two bulky substituents on adjacent positions: structure of 1,2-bis(1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaboran-1-yl)benzene

Synthesis and structural analysis of 1,2-bis(o-carboranyl)benzene were performed to examine the steric effects of the two extremely bulky o-carborane cages at adjacent positions on the planarity of the benzene ring. X-ray crystallographic analysis supported by DFT calculations revealed that the benzene ring is significantly deformed by the bulky o-carboranyl groups.