Improved Methods for the Synthesis of B10H14 and N-Heterocycle-Coordinated B9H13 (N-Het·B9H13)

Improved methods for the synthesis of B10H14 and a series of N-heterocycle-coordinated B9H13 complexes (N-Het·B9H13) have been developed with readily obtained KB11H14 as the starting material. Oxidation of KB11H14 could provide B10H14 in over 90% yield. Then, the N-Het·B9H13 complexes were prepared from the as-synthesized B10H14 through in situ multistep reactions by reacting with NaH, N-heterocycles, and dilute hydrochloric acid. Among these N-Het·B9H13 complexes, 4-(triphenylvinyl)pyridine-coordinated B9H13 (1k) exhibits a significant aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect in a THF/H2O mixed solution, and 8-aminoisoquinoline-coordinated B9H13 (2p) exhibits a positive solvatochromism phenomenon. These improved methods provide new approaches to synthesizing B10H14 and N-Het·B9H13 complexes with potential applications in luminescent materials.