Figure 1

a Plot of the structures and total electronic densities of B₁₂H₆. Note that the density of electrons is weaker at the center of the “boron ring.”b Quasi-planarC_sstructure of B₁₂H₈, which is the energetically preferred configuration for B₁₂with 4 H₂molecules, attached to it.c A contour plot of NICS(x,y) for B₁₂H₆in plane (left) and at 1 Å above the planar molecule (right)