Mild Synthesis of Diboryldiborenes by Diboration of B-B Triple Bonds

A set of diboryldiborenes are prepared by the mild, catalyst-free, room-temperature diboration of the B-B triple bonds of doubly base-stabilized diborynes. Two of the product diboryldiborenes are found to be air- and water-stable in the solid state, an effect that is attributed to their high crystallinity and extreme insolubility in a wide range of solvents.