Organotransition-Metal Metallacarboranes. 46. Multidecker Sandwiches of the Cobalt Group Metals(,)(1).

The double-decker sandwich complex CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(4)H(4)) (1a) was prepared via deprotonation of nido-2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(4)H(6) to its mono- or dianion and reaction with (CpIrCl(2))(2) in THF and isolated as a colorless air-stable solid; the B(4)-chloro derivative 1b was also obtained. Decapitation of 1a and 1b with TMEDA afforded colorless nido-CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(5)) (2a) and its 4-chloro derivative 2b. Chlorination of 1a by Cl(2) or N-chlorosuccinimide gave the symmetrical species CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(4)H(3)-5-Cl) (1c), which was decapped to yield nido-CpIr(2,3-Et(2)C(2)B(3)H(4)-5-Cl) (2c).