Crystal and molecular structure of µ,2′-SnPh2(B5H8)2 and µ,1′-SnPh2(B5H8)2: the first structurally characterized examples of two pentaborane cages linked by a single heteroatom

The synthesis and characterization of three of the six possible linkage isomers of SnPh2(B5H8)2 is reported, reaction between K[B5H8] and SnCl2Ph2, in 2 : 1 molar ratio, affording either µ,µ′-SnPh2(B5H8)2µ,1,µ,2′-SnPh2(B5H8)2,2, or µ,1′-SnPh2(B5H8)2,3, depending on the choice of solvent and conditions; the crystal structures of 2 and 3 are reported and 3 is also prepared in the reaction between K[B5H8] and 1-SnClPh2B5H8.