Ball-and-stick models showing structures of the boron skeletons of borane clusters. The numbering indicates the number of vertices in each closo cluster. The nido and arachno clusters derived from each closo cluster are shown alongside.

For an explanation of the concepts, see polyhedral skeletal electron pair theory.

For context, see Alan J. Welch, "The significance and impact of Wade’s rules", Chem. Commun. (2013) 49, 3615-3616.

The diagram is based on the following crystal structures:

4. J. Chem. Phys. (1953) 21, 172-172 (CSD 1603048, ICSD 27872)

5. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. (2002) 1293-1300 (CSD MOFLEY)

6. Phys. Rev. B (2006) 74, 075110 (see also CSD 1651993)

7. Inorg. Chem. (2011) 50, 2580-2589 (CSD IYAHUM)

8. Inorg. Chem. (1969) 8, 2771-2774 (CSD FUZCUY)

9. Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. (1999) 625, 1059-1072 (CSD GOXWUL)

10. Koord. Khim. (1992) 18, 387 (WAKXIP)

11. Z. Anorg. Allg. Chem. (1999) 625, 1193-1200 (CSD LOSDIG)

12. Z. anorg. allg. Chem. (2000) 626, 323–325 (CSD 1651993, ICSD 92501)

Colour code:

  Boron, B: pink