Addition of a Perfluoroalkyl Acetyl Group to the C-Vertex of a Carborane Anion to Enhance Its Solubility in Fluorinated Ether Solvents

Abstract

The modification of carborane anion monocarba-closo-dodecaborate (1) with perfluoroalkyl groups enhances its solubility in fluorinated ethers. This novel approach achieves a degree of solubility that is unattainable by using traditional lipophilic modifications or boro–vertex functionalizations of 1. A spectroscopic analysis in combination with DFT calculations confirmed that these new anions retain their weakly coordinating nature and exhibit moderate chemical stability.

Keywords

• carborane anion
• electrolyte
• perfluoroalkyl group