Bis(tetra-ethyl-ammonium) dodeca-cyanododecaborate(2-)

The title compound, 2C₈H₂₀N⁺·B₁₂C₁₂N₁₂ ^2-, was prepared using microwave-promoted cross-coupling and crystallized from an aceto-nitrile-water solution. The structure was determined at 101 K, indicating the title compound crystallizes in the trigonal space group P3 and features a B₁₂(CN)₁₂ ^2- subunit with nearly icosa-hedral symmetry. The anionic subunit interacts with the Et₄N⁺ cation in the structure by multiple weak Csp ³-H⋯N hydrogen bonds between CN groups on the anion and methyl and methyl-ene H atoms on the cation.