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

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