New Reactions for Old Ions: Cage Rearrangements, Hydrolysis, and Two-Electron Reduction of nido-Decaborane in Neat 1‑Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Acetate

The access to free, unsolvated ions at high concentrations and ambient temperatures enabled by ionic liquids results in previously unobserved reactivity for even well-studied ions, demonstrated here by acetate ([OAc]−) acting as a reducing agent for B10H14 but only when used as a neat liquid in [C2mim]­[OAc] at ambient temperature. More typical reaction products are obtained when B10H14 is reacted with [C2mim]­[OAc] at an elevated temperature or in the presence of strong bases.