Swollen Polyhedral Volume of the -BH Cluster via Extensive Methylation: -BHClMe.

Methylation of -BH () affords the first example of alkyl substitution of terminal hydrogen atoms on the fluorescent octadecaborane-22 molecule to give highly methylated 2,2'-Cl-1,1',3,3',4,4',7,7',8,8',10,10'-Me--BH (). This extensive chemical substitution leads to a swelling in the polyhedral volume of the 18-vertex boron atomic skeleton of the molecule and an enhancement of the absorption and solubility characteristics of this highly fluorescent molecule. We propose this "swollen polyhedral volume" to be the result of a marked increase in the relative positivity of the "cluster-only total charge" of the boron atomic skeleton caused by the combined electron-withdrawing capacity of the 12 methyl groups. Enhancement in the absorption and solubility properties may be crucial in the design of new borane-based laser materials.