Publication involving our researchers published in “Chemical Science”

A publication involving our scientists, dr Rafał Jakubowski (first author) and prof. Piotr Kaszyński (corresponding author), has appeared in the prestigious journal Chemical Science, the flagship publication of the UK-based Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC).

This work was carried out in collaboration between three research groups: the group of prof. Piotr Kaszyński from the Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies, Polish Academy of Sciences (CMMS PAS) in Łódź; the group of prof. Adrienne Friedli and prof. Piotr Kaszyński from Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), USA; and the group of Prof. Kevin Shaughnessy from The University of Alabama, USA. The study is the result of a 3.5-month research stay of drPublication involving our researchers published in Chemical Science Rafał Jakubowski at MTSU, USA, in 2024.

The article concerns the first alkyl derivatives of closo-decaborate, [closo-B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻, bearing substituents at the apical (1- and 10-) positions of the cluster. These derivatives are of exceptional interest due to their unusually high HOMO energy levels.

The paper presents a synthetic method for these derivatives based on a palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction between organozinc reagents and mono- or diiodo derivatives of the [closo-B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻ anion. DFT calculations revealed that these substrates are among the most demanding substrates compared to typical iodo derivatives of closo-boranes.

The material properties of the new alkyl derivatives of the [closo-B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻ cluster were also investigated through their transformation into Fe(II) complexes as well as ionic liquid crystals exhibiting intermolecular charge transfer.

Link to the publication:

 https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2026/sc/d5sc08516k