Carboranes meet photochemistry: Recent progresses in light-mediated cage functionalisation

Carboranes are intriguing structures which show an excellent in vivo stability and high chemical versatility. Furthermore, thanks to their structural and electronic properties they find many applications in several fields, as smart materials, bioisosters of aryl rings in knows drugs and BNCT (Boron Neutron Capture Therapy) agents, for example. Recently, the reactivity of these boron rich icosahedral cages, promoted by UV–visible light, has encountered the interest of some research groups, which described new pathways based on the formation of Band C-centred radicals. In these way, properly functionalised carboranes have been prepared, increasing the applications of these precious moieties.