New triethoxysilylated 10-vertex closo-decaborate clusters. Synthesis and controlled immobilization into mesoporous silica

Novel silylated hydroborate clusters comprising the doso-decaborate cage were prepared and characterized by H-1, C-13, B-11, Si-29 NMR and mass spectroscopy ESI. The synthesis of such silylated clusters was achieved using reactive derivatives of [B10H10](2-), [1-B10H9N2](-) and [2-B10H9CO](-). These silylated decaborate clusters constitute a new class of precursors that can be covalently anchored onto various silica supports without any prior surface modification. As a proof of concept, the synthesized precursors were successfully anchored on mesoporous silica, SBA-15 type, in different percentages, where the mesoporous material retained its structure. All materials modified with closo-decaborate were characterized by B-11 and Si-29 solid state NMR, XRD, TEM and nitrogen sorption.