title: Boron-boron σ-bond formation by two-electron reduction of a H-bridged dimer of monoborane.
abstract: Diborane(6) as a H-bridged dimer of monoborane can be converted cleanly by two-electron reduction into diborane(6) dianion, which is isoelectronic with ethane, through B-B σ-bond formation when each boron atom has a bulky ligand on it. The existence of the B-B σ bond is supported by the X-ray molecular structure [B-B bond length of 1.924(3) Å], NMR studies, magnetic susceptibility measurements, and DFT calculations. Stepwise hydride abstraction reactions of the diborane(6) dianion produce the corresponding H-bridged diborane(5) anion and doubly H-bridged diborane(4) without B-B bond scission.
authors.affiliation: Functional Elemento-Organic Chemistry Unit, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Tsukasa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hashizume
authors.forename: Matthias J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gutmann
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fueno
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamao