The Zwitterion [8,8′-μ-CH2O(CH3)-(1,2-C2B9H10)2-3,3′-Co]0 as a Versatile Building Block To Introduce Cobalt Bis(Dicarbollide) Ion into Organic Molecules

The synthesis of a new bridged [8,8′-μ-CH2O(CH3)-(1,2-C2B9H10)2-3,3′-Co]0 derivative (2), arising from the acid-catalyzed reaction of cobalt bis(1,2-dicarbollide)(1−) ion with formaldehyde, is reported. The proposed reaction path is supported by the isolation of side products including two zwitterionic compounds, the known bridged [8,8′-μ-(CH3O)-(1,2-C2B9H10)2-3,3′-Co]0 derivative (3), the new zwitterion [(8-(CH3)2O-1,2-C2B9H10)-(1′,2′-C2B9H11)-3,3′-Co]0 (4), and two anionic compounds—the known [(8,8′-Cl2-1,2-C2B9H10)2-3,3′-Co]− and the newly characterized dimethoxy derivative [(8,8′-(CH3O)2-1,2-C2B9H10)2-3,3′-Co]− of the cobalt bis(dicarbollide) ion. Compound 2 serves as a versatile buildi…