Carboranes

chemical compounds composed of boron, carbon, and hydrogen atoms and having the general formula B_nC_m H_n+m.In carboranes, the B and C atoms are arranged at the vertices of the more or less regular polyhedron; every atom of B or C is bonded to one H atom. One of the B or C atoms in carboranes can be replaced by one atom of another element, such as phosphorus, arsenic, tin, or aluminum. The state of aggregation for carboranes changes from gaseous to solid as n increases. Carboranes and their derivatives are noted for their high thermal and chemical stability. Their properties are in many ways similar to those of aromatic hydrocarbons. Carboranes are therefore capable of undergoing various transformations related to the substitution of the H atoms located at the C or B atom.Carboranes are primarily formed by the interaction of acetylene derivatives with the corresponding boranes.

The carborane B ₁₀C₂H₁₂ is used in the preparation of different types of polymers used in solid rocket fuels and as a thermostable coating.