Synthesis and chemical properties of the closo-dodecaborate anion [B₁₂H₁₂]^2- and its derivatives are reviewed. Attention is also paid to potential applications of the closo-dodecaborate derivatives with emphasis on medical applications. A review with 325 references.

Synthesis and chemical properties of cobalt bis(dicarbollides) [commo-3,3'-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]^- and [commo-2,2'-Co(1,7-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]^- and their derivatives are reviewed. An attention is also paid to potential applications of cobalt bis(dicarbollides). A review with 132 references.

The use of polyhedral boron hydrides for cancer treatment is traditionally connected with boron neutron capture therapy. More recently, polyhedral borate anions were proposed as carriers of radionuclide label for targeted radionuclide therapy and diagnostics of cancer. Some metal derivatives of carboranes were found to demonstrate significant antitumor activity themselves. This review is designed to highlight the recent work concerning various fields of potential application of polyhedral boron compounds in anticancer diagnostics and therapy.

Synthesis and structure of silver and copper salts and complexes with polyhedral boron hydride anions, including closo-decaborate [B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻, closo-dodecaborate [B₁₂H₁₂]²⁻, 1-carba-closo- decaborate [1-CB₉H₁₀]⁻, carba-closo-dodecaborate [CB₁₁H₁₂]⁻, and cobalt bis(dicarbollide) [3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ anions and their derivatives, are reviewed. The complexes demonstrate a wide variety of structural types, relating to both the metal coordination environment and coordination modes of boron hydride anions. The latter can range from strong coordination via the polyhedron triangular face including formation of 3c-2e MHB bonds in the case of the [B₁₀H₁₀]²⁻ dianion, the structure of which contains two four-coordinated boron atoms, to very weak M…H interactions with the hydride atoms in the case of bulky [3,3′-Co(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ monoanion.