“…The iodonium derivative is easily accessible by reaction of the monoiodo derivative [8-I-3,3′-Co(1,2-C 2 B 9 H 10 )(1,2-C 2 B 9 H 11 )] − with AlCl 3 in benzene . Reactions of 2 with Lewis bases presumably proceed through the iodonium bridge opening with generation of a quasi-borinium cation at position 8 of the metallacarborane cage followed by attack with a Lewis base, resulting in bifunctional derivatives [8-L-8′-I-3,3′-Co(1,2-C 2 B 9 H 10 ) 2 ] (L = NH 3 , NEt 3 , Py, NCR (R = Me, Ph, CHCH 2 ), SMe 2 , O(CH 2 CH 2 ) 2 O). − On the other hand, combinations of sterically hindered Lewis acids and Lewis bases, termed frustrated Lewis pairs, do not form classical Lewis acid−Lewis base adducts, but are able to activate various small molecules (H 2 , CO 2 , carbonyl compounds, alkenes, dienes, alkynes) . In the present work we studied reactions of 2 with Lewis bases in aromatic solvents.…”