The synthesis of carboacycles derived from B,B'-bis(aryl) derivatives of icosahedral ortho-carborane.

Reactions of both closo-9,12-I2-1,2-C2B10H10 and closo-9,10-I2-1,7-C2B10H10 with an excess of aryl magnesium bromide in the presence of [PdCl2(PPh3)2] afford the corresponding closo-9,12-(4-R-C6H4)2-1,2-C2B10H10 [R=H (1), Me (2), OMe (3), SMe (4), N(CH3)2 (5), Cl (6)] and closo-9,10-(4-R-C6H4)2-1,7-C2B10H10 [R'=Me (7), OMe (8), N(CH3)2 (9), Cl (10), and -C[(OCH2)2]CH3 (11)] compounds in high yields. The anisole derivatives 3 and 8 were deprotected to yield the corresponding bis-phenols 12 and 13, respectively. Structural analyses of compounds 1, 3, 6, and 12 are reported. Re-etherification of compound 12 by using gamma-bromotriethyleneglycol methyl ether provided 14 (R=(CH2CH2O)3CH3). Oxidation of 4 with ceric(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) generated the bis-sulfoxide 15 (R=S(O)Me). Deprotection of compound 11 led to the corresponding acetyl derivative 18 (R'=C(O)Me). Bis-anisole 3 was tethered with 1,3-dibromopropane, 1,6-dibromohexane, 1,8-dibromooctane, 4,4'-bis(iodomethyl)-1,1'-biphenyl, and alpha,alpha'-dibromo-2,6-lutidine to afford the dimers 20b, 21b, 22b, 23b, and 24b, respectively. The tetrameric carboracycles 27a and 30a, as well as the dimeric 29c were obtained through repetitive coupling of the dimeric compounds 20b, 24b, and 22b with 1,3-dibromopropane, alpha,alpha'-dibromo-2,6-lutidine, and 1,8-dibromooctane, respectively. The tetrameric carboracycle 28a was obtained upon consecutive reactions of 1 with 1,4-dibromobutane. Hexameric carboracycle 28b was identified as a byproduct. Exhaustive ether cleavage of 27a generated octaphenol 31a. Re-etherification of 31a with trimethylenesultone provided the octasulfonate 32a, the first example of a water-soluble carboracycle. Linkage of dimer 23b with alpha,alpha'-dibromolutidine yielded the cyclic tetrameric tetrapyridyl derivative 30a in low yield. The structures of the carboracycles 27a, 28a, 28b, and 30a have been confirmed by Xray crystallography. In addition, the compounds 28a,b are the first reported carboracycles that interact with solvent molecules in a host-guest fashion.