Decaborane
Encyclopedia : D : DE : DEC : Decaborane
Decaborane, also called decaborane(14) or decaboron tetradecahydride, is a stable crystalline borane with chemical formula B10H14. It forms colorless to white crystals with a melting point of 99.6°C and a boiling point of 213°C. Its CAS number is [17702-41-9][link]. The molecule shape is similar to an unfinished icosahedron.
It possesses a strong penetrating musty odor that is unique to boranes and quickly recognizable; decaborane itself smells intensely bitter, chocolate-like. When ignited it produces a bright green flame, similar to that observed in the oxidation of many other boron hydride compounds. It is not sensitive to air nor hydrolysis, though it undergoes hydrolysis in boiling water, releasing hydrogen and boric acid solution. Its flash point is 80 °C and its autoignition temperature is 149 °C. It is soluble in cold water.
It is commonly synthesized via the pyrolysis of smaller boron hydride clusters (for example B2H6 or B5H9) under vacuum. The physical characteristics of decaborane(14) resemble those of the organic compounds naphthalene and anthracene, in that it is highly flammable, and can be sublimed under vacuum at moderate temperatures. Sublimation is the most common method of purification.
Decaborane, like pentaborane, is a powerful toxin affecting central nervous system, though considerably less toxic than pentaborane. It can be absorbed through skin. It forms an explosive mixture with tetrachloromethane, which caused an often quoted explosion in a Malta, NY manufacturing facility in 1948 when CCl4 was used to clean the equipment. [link]
Decaborane(14) is soluble in a wide variety of non-polar and moderately polar solvents including hexanes, benzene, toluene, diethyl ether, and methylene chloride.
In strongly coordinating solvents (i.e. CH3CN or Me2S), decaborane(14) readily forms an adduct with the formula B10H12•2L, where L = CH3CN, Me2S).
Decaborane(14) is a Brønsted acid: in the presence of moderately strong bases, a proton can be removed to generate the anion [B10H13]–.
Decaborane ions can be used for low energy ion implantation of boron in manufacture of semiconductors; the molecule decomposes in the plasma, yielding monoatomic boron ions. Decaborane is also used in plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition to manufacture boron-containing thin films.
In aneutronic fusion research, decaborane is used to boronize the tokamak plasma to research the proton-11boron reactions.
In polymer chemistry, decaborane is used as a catalyst.
Decaborane was also being used as an additive to special high-performance rocket fuels. Its derivates were investigated as well, eg. ethyl decaborane. One patented fuel composition includes vinyl decaborane-polyester copolymer. Vinyl decaborane ("dekene") is prepared by reacting decaborane with acetylene. [link]
See also
- Decaborane(16)
External links
- [National Pollutant Inventory - Boron and compounds]
- http://www.webelements.com/webelements/compounds/text/B/B10H14-17702419.html
- For a full list of external links to MSDSs, spectroscopic data, commercial chemicals suppliers etc. for this compound, see [Chemical sources].
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.