Preparation of M
A method for producing M n B 12 H 12 , wherein M is a metal or ammonium cation and n is one or two, by combining a metal borohydride and XBH 3 ; wherein X is a substituted amine; a substituted phosphine; or tetrahydrofuran.
1. A method for producing M n B 12 H 12 , wherein M is a metal or ammonium cation and n is one or two; said method comprising combining a metal borohydride and XBH 3 ; wherein X is an amine containing at least one aryl group, aralkyl group or branched alkyl group; a phosphine having three aryl, aralkyl or branched alkyl groups; or tetrahydrofuran.
2. The method of claim 1 in which X is an amine.
3. The method of claim 2 in which said at least one aryl group, aralkyl group or branched alkyl group is at least one branched alkyl group.
4. The method of claim 3 in which said at least one branched alkyl group is a tertiary alkyl group having at least eight carbon atoms.
5. The method of claim 4 in which other amine substituents are hydrogen atoms.
6. The method of claim 5 in which M is sodium and n is two.
7. The method of claim 1 in which X is a phosphine.
8. The method of claim 7 in which the phosphine contains three aryl groups.
9. The method of claim 8 in which the aryl groups are selected from the group consisting of phenyl and tolyl.
10. The method of claim 9 in which M is sodium and n is two.