Copper (I)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction for the synthesis of 1,2-bis (3-butenyl)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dedocaborane

A bis-C (cage)-substituted o-carborane 1,2-bis (3-butenyl)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dedocaborane is successfully synthesized via cross-coupling reaction of carboranyl Grignard reagent with allyl bromide in the presence of copper (I) salt as catalyst. The optimization of this cross-coupling reaction reveals that the copper (I) salts have high catalytic activity for the formation of the corresponding dialkenyl-substituted o-carborane, especially in the presence of 1-phenyl-1-propyne as additive, whereas the palladium and nickel complexes containing triphenylphosphine ligands favor the formation of mono-substituted alkenylcarborane. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.