Pyrolysis of trimethylborane. Part I. The preparation and properties of 2,4,6,8,9,10-hexamethyl-2,4,6,8,9,10-hexabora-adamantane

The preparation of 2,4,6,8,9,10-hexamethyl-2,4,6,8,9,10-hexabora-adamantane, (MeB)6(CH)4, in high yield (ca. 25%) by pyrolysis of BMe3 is described. Degradation of the boron–carbon cage occurs in reactions of (MeB)6(CH)4 with oxygen, propanoic acid, and ammonia but no reaction occurs with water. It behaves as only a weak acceptor towards the donors, NMe3, PMe3, and PMe2Ph, and stable complexes could not be isolated at room temperature.