Pairing heterocyclic cations with closo-icosahedral borane and carborane anions. i. benchtop aqueous synthesis of binary triazolium and imidazolium salts with limited water solubility.

Ten new salts that pair triazolium and imidazolium cations with closo-icosahedral anions [B(12)H(12)](2-) and [CB(11)H(12)](-) were synthesized in water solvent using an open-air, benchtop method. These unreported [Heterocyclium](2)[B(12)H(12)] and [Heterocyclium][CB(11)H(12)] salts extend reports of [Imidazolium][CB(11)H(12)] and [Pyridinium][CB(11)H(12)] salts that were synthesized in anhydrous organic solvents under an inert atmosphere with glovebox or Schlenk techniques. Spectroscopic data, melting points, and densities are reported for each salt. Single-crystal X-ray structures are provided for the five new [B(12)H(12)](2-) salts.