Metal stabilized [B8H8]2- derivatives with dodecahedral structure in solid- and solution-state: [(Cp2MBH3)2B8H6], (Cp = ƞ5-C5H5; M = Zr (1-Zr) and Hf (1-Hf)).

Despite the synthesis and structural characterization of closo-hydroborate dianions, [Bn Hn ]2- (n=6-12) more than 50 years ago, some ambiguity remains about the structure of [B8 H8 ]2- . Although the solid-state structure of [B8 H8 ]2- was established by single-crystal X-ray studies in 1969, fast rearrangements in solution at accessible temperatures prevented its detailed characterization. We therefore stabilized a derivative of [B8 H8 ]2- by using Cp2 MBH3 and structurally characterized two new octaborane analogues, [(Cp2 MBH3 )2 B8 H6 ] (Cp=η5 -C5 H5 ; M=Zr (1-Zr) and Hf (1-Hf)), so that the dynamics of the B8 skeleton were arrested. The solid-state structures of both 1-Zr and 1-Hf comprise a dodecahedron core protected by {Cp2 MBH3 } moieties on both sides of the cluster. Spectroscopic characterization (11 B NMR) validates the intactness of the B8 dodecahedron core in solution as well. Theoretical calculations establish that the two exo-{Cp2 MBH3 } fragments provide structural and electronic structural stability to the B8 core and its intact dodecahedral dianionic nature. Furthermore, we propose isodesmic equations for the formation of higher analogues of the Bn core (n>8) guarded by different group 4 transition metals. Our analysis suggests that, as we move to higher polyhedra (n>10), the formation becomes unfavourable irrespective of metal.