The 12-X- closo-SB11H10 (X = H or I) thiaboranes react with one or two molar equivalents of various N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) to give the deprotonated 12-vertex species of [12-X-SB11H9·NHC]-[NHC-H]+composition as kinetic products. The use of one molar equivalent of a sterically more hindered NHC reactant leads to the formation of 12-X-SB11H10·NHC adducts with a heavily distorted cage and the nido electron count. Further reaction of 12-I-SB11H10·NHC to deboronated 12-X-SB10H9·NHC proceeds in acetone to complete the closo- nido reaction pathway under the thermodynamic control. The structures of all compounds have been investigated by NMR spectroscopy and diffraction techniques. The results are supported by theoretical methods.

Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry Faculty of Chemical Technology University of Pardubice Studentská 573 532 10 Pardubice Czech Republic

Institute of Inorganic Chemistry Czech Academy of Sciences 250 68 Řež Czech Republic

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo náměstí 542 2 166 10 Praha 6 Czech Republic

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