title: Brellochs reaction
text: # Brellochs reaction
  
  In organoboron chemistry, the Brellochs reaction provides a way to generate the monocarboranes. The use of acetylenes to insert two carbons into boron hydrides is well established. The Brellochs method uses formaldehyde to insert single carbon atoms into boron hydrides.
  
  Illustrative is the synthesis of $CB_9H_{14}^−$ from commercially available decaborane.
  
      $B_{10}H_{14}$ + $CH_2O$ + 2 $OH^−$ + $H_2O$ → $CB_9H_{14}^−$ + $B(OH)_4^−$ + $H_2$
  
  Oxidation of the arachno anion gives $nido-6-CB_9H_{12}^−.$ Base degradation of the latter gives $arachno-4-CB_8H_{14}.$
  
  