Synthesis of the new boron hydride nido-undecaborane(15), B/sub 11/H/sub 15/, and the x-ray structure of its conjugate base tetradecahydroundecaborate(1-), (B/sub 11/H/sub 14/)/sup /minus//

The preparation of nido-undecaborane, B/sub 11/H/sub 15/, from the protonation of K(B/sub 11/H/sub 14/) and the subsequent deprotonation of B/sub 11/H/sub 15/ by P(CH/sub 3/)/sub 3/ to give (P(CH/sub 3/)/sub 3/H)(B/sub 11/H/sub 14/) is described. The structure of (P(CH/sub 3/)/sub 3/H)(B/sub 11/H/sub 14/) has been determined from single-crystal x-ray data. The spectral data indicate that the boron framework of B/sub 11/H/sub 15/ is similar to that of (B/sub 11/H/sub 14/)/sup /minus//. 11 references, 1 figure.