Catalytic Oxidative Dehydrogenative Coupling of Cage B-H/B-H Bonds for Synthesis of Bis(o-carborane)s

An efficient and succinct protocol for synthesis of bis(o-carborane) connected by a B-B bond via palladium catalyzed oxidative dehydrogenative coupling of cage B-H/B-H bonds was developed for the first time. A series of bis(o-carborane)s connected by B(4)-B(4)' and B(4)-B(5)' bonds was synthesized with moderate to good yields. This work opens the door for miscellaneous applications of bis(o-carborane) in related disciplines and has important value in design and synthesis of different kinds of biscarboranes.