Synthesis, reactivity, and structural characterization studies of a number of group 13 metallacarborane species are described. These include studies of the icosahedral aluminacarborane closo-3-Et-3,1,2-AlC2B9H11 (1a). Compound 1a reacts with Lewis bases to form adducts of the type 2L-1a (L = Lewis base). The reaction of 1a with excess PEt3 results in the rapid formation of endo-10-{AlEt(PEt3)2}-7,8-C2B9H 11 (3). The novel sandwich species commo-3,3′-Al[{exo-8,9-(μ-H)2-AlEt 2-3,1,2-AlC2B9H9)}(3,1,2-AlC 2B9H11)] (4) results from thermal dimerization of 1a. The related sandwich anions [commo-3,3′-Al(3,1,2-AlC2B9H11) 2]- ([5]-) and [commo-3,3′-Ga(3,1,2-GaC2B9H11) 2]- ([6]-) have been prepared. The full details of the synthesis and structural characterization of σ-bonded species nido-6,9-(μ-AlEt-(OEt2))-6,9-C2B8H 10 (8), [Al(η2-6,9-C2B8H10) 2]- ([10]-), and [Al(η2-2,7-C2B6H8) 2]- ([11]-) are reported. The metallacarboranes 3, 4, [5]-, [6]-, 8, [10]-, and [11]- were characterized by a combination of spectroscopic techniques and by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Crystallographic parameters are as follows: 3, P21/n, a = 9.722 (3) A?, b = 16.135 (4) A?, c = 16.984 (5) A?, β = 90.246 (9)°, V = 2652 A?3, Z = 4, R = 0.064, Rw = 0.082 for 3394 independent reflections with I > 3σ(I); 4, P21/n, a = 7.122 (2) A?, b = 27.668 (8) A?, c = 11.629 (3) A?, β = 96.246 (5)°, V = 2288 A?3, Z = 4, R = 0.065, Rw = 0.075, GOF = 2.39 for 2137 independent reflections; Tl[5]·2/3C7H8, P1, a = 11.347 (2) A?, b = 11.748 (2) A?, c = 12.708 (2) A?, α = 92.429 (6)°, β = 90.876 (6)°, γ = 93.343 (5)°, V = 1689 A?3, Z = 3, R = 0.057, Rw = 0.064, GOF = 1.57 for 1941 independent reflections; Tl[6], P1, a = 6.9564 (6) A?, b = 11.0466 (9) A?, c = 12.0287 (10) A?, α = 102.088 (2)°, β = 95.484 (2)°, γ = 94.687 (3)°, V = 894 A?3, Z = 2, R = 0.041, Rw, = 0.054, GOF = 2.03 for 2733 independent reflections; 8·1/2C6H6, A1, a = 13.964 (3) A?, b = 15.966 (4) A?, c = 8.550 (2) A?, α = 92.227 (8)°, β = 86.689 (7)°, γ = 102.060 (8)°, V = 1862 A?3, Z = 4 (reduced cell: a = 8.552 A?, b = 8.909 A?, c = 13.967 A?, α = 99.172°, β = 93.323°, γ = 116.428°, V = 930.9 A?3, Z = 2) R = 0.061, Rw = 0.081, GOF = 2.85 for 2338 independent reflections; [(PPh3)2N][10], P21/c, a = 16.378 (3) A?, b = 18.781 (3) A?, c = 14.806 (3) A?, β = 90.197 (5)°, V = 4554 A?3, Z = 4, R = 0.078, Rw = 0.088, GOF = 2.0 for 2128 independent reflections; [Na][11], P21, a = 10.035 (2) A?, b = 12.433 (3) A?, c = 11.690 (3) A?, β = 111.019 (7)°, V = 1367 A?3, Z = 4, R = 0.049, Rw = 0.059, GOF = 2.08 for 2156 independent reflections. The compound Tl[5]°2/3C7H8 contains the thallium(I)-arene complex Tl(η6-MePh). Compounds 1a and 4 were shown to catalyze the exchange of carborane B-H and arene C-D bonds as well as the polymerization of selected olefins under mild homogeneous conditions. Bonding and the varying degrees of distortion from idealized closo and commo geometries displayed by 3,4, [5]-, and [6]- are discussed. Species 8, [10]-, and [11]- contain Al-C σ-bonded aluminum-carborane connectivities. Compound 8 exhibits rapid exchange of aluminum-coordinated ether in solution, and the compound nido-6,9-(μ-AlEt-(C4H8O))-6,9-C2B 8H10 (9) was prepared by ether exchange of 8 in tetrahydrofuran/toluene. Anion [11]-undergoes rapid enantiomer interconversion in solution at room temperature.