nido-carborane

chemical compound

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "nido-carborane" refers to a specific type of carborane, which are organometallic compounds containing carbon, boron, and hydrogen. The general formula for carboranes is C₂B_nH_{n + 2}. Nido-carboranes are characterized by their polyhedral molecular structures, similar to boranes, and involve three-center bonds. The carbon atoms in these structures are typically adjacent. The synthesis of carboranes often involves the reaction of acetylene with boron hydrides. While closo-carboranes are generally stable, nido-carboranes are less stable and more reactive toward air and chemicals. The discovery and study of carboranes, including nido-carboranes, have led to the development of metallacarboranes, some of which exhibit catalytic activity.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

carborane
Reactions and synthesis of carboranes
…the case with boranes, the nido- and arachno-carboranes are less thermally stable and reactive toward air and chemical reagents than the corresponding closo-carboranes, most of which are stable to 400 °C (750 °F), although they may rearrange to more stable isomeric forms.
Read More
…the case with boranes, the nido- and arachno-carboranes are less thermally stable and reactive toward air and chemical reagents than the corresponding closo-carboranes, most of which are stable to 400 °C (750 °F), although they may rearrange to more stable isomeric forms.
Read More