Convenient solution-phase syntheses of tetrahalodiboranes(4) and the dimethylsulfide adducts B2Cl4(SMe2)2 and B2Br4(SMe2)2 are presented.

The lability of B=B, B−P, and B–halide bonds is combined in the syntheses of the first diiododiborenes. In a series of reactivity tests, these diiododiborenes undergo cleavage of all six of their central bonds in different ways, leading to products of B=B hydrogenation and dihalogenation as well as halide exchange.

A series of 22 new bis(phosphine), bis(carbene), and bis(isonitrile) tetrahalodiborane adducts has been synthesized, either by direct adduct formation with highly sensitive B2X4 precursors (X=Cl, Br, I) or by ligand exchange at stable B2X4(SMe2)2 precursors (X=Cl, Br) with labile dimethylsulfide ligands. The isolated compounds have been fully characterized using NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and, for 20 of these compounds, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, revealing an unexpected variation in the bonding motifs. In addition to the classical B2X4L2 diborane(4) bis‐adducts, certain more sterically demanding carbene ligands induce a halide displacement which led to the first halide‐bridged monocationic diboron species, [B2X3L2]A (A=BCl4, Br, I). Furthermore, low‐temperature 1:1 reactions of B2Cl4 with sterically demanding N‐heterocyclic carbenes led to the formation of kinetically unstable mono‐adducts, one of which was structurally characterized. A comparison of the NMR spectra and structural data of new and literature‐known bis‐adducts shows several trends pertaining to the nature of the halides and the stereoelectronic properties of the Lewis bases employed.

The reaction of tetraiododiborane (B I ) with trans-[Pt(BI )I(PCy ) ] gives rise to the diplatinum(II) complex [{(Cy P)(I B)Pt} (μ :η :η -B I )], which is supported by a bridging diboranyl dianion ligand [B I ] . This complex is the first transition-metal complex of a diboranyl dianion, as well as the first example of intact coordination of a B X (X=halide) unit of any type to a metal center.