Study of Hydrolysis of Nitrile Derivatives of closo -Dodecaborate Anion (Et 4 N)[B 12 H 11 N≡C–R] (R = Me, Et, n Pr, i Pr)

The reaction of nitrile derivatives of closo -dodecaborate anion (Et 4 N)[B 12 H 11 N≡C–R] (R = Me, Et, n Pr, i Pr) with water has yielded a series of (Et 4 N)[B 12 H 11 NH=C(OH)–R] iminols. It has been demonstrated that the hydrolysis products are in acid–base iminol–amide equilibrium, which can be controlled by changing the pH of a medium. The reaction products have been identified by 11 В, 1 Н, 13 С NMR, IR spectroscopy, and ESI mass spectrometry. The structures of the [B 12 H 11 ( Z -NH=C(OH) n C 3 H 7 )] − and [B 12 H 11 ( E -NH–C(O) n C 3 H 7 )] 2− anions have been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction.