Hexaborane(12) Explained

Hexaborane(12) is an inorganic compound with the formula B6H12. It is an obscure member of the boranes. It is a colorless liquid that, like some other boron hydride clusters, is readily hydrolyzed and flammable.

The molecular structure conforms to C2 symmetry group. With the formula BnHn+6, it is classified as an arachno-cluster. As such the boron positions match six of the boron positions in the closo-B8H.

Preparation

It is typically prepared by the cluster expansion method from B5H, the conjugate base of pentaborane(9):[1]

LiB5H8 + 1/2 B2H6 → LiB6H11

LiB6H11 + HCl → B6H12 + LiCl

Notes and References

  1. p.172.