Functionalization of Dodecaborates by Mild and Efficient Pd-Catalyzed Formation of B-C Bonds with Boronic Acids

A general procedure for connecting dodecaborate clusters to organic building blocks has been found, using boronic acids as functional groups on the organic moiety, reacting under Suzuki-Miyaura coupling conditions with iodo-undecahydridododecaborate. The choices of ligand (DavePhos) and solvent (N-methylpyrrolidone for electron-poor, CD3CN for electron-rich groups) are essential for the success of the coupling. The procedure is not sensitive to the presence of other functional groups which are unable to participate in Suzuki-Miyaura reactions.