Cationic Polyhedral Chalcogenaboranes: Activation without breaking Wade’s Rules

This study reports the first cationic chalcogenaboranes that retain the same skeletal electron pair count as their neutral counterparts, defying Wade’s rules. The ionization significantly enhances their electrophilicity, enabling reactions with very weak bases. Furthermore, it allows for regioselective control over interactions with hard and soft bases by modulating the LUMO.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/anie.202419677