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Among the numerous routes organic chemists have developed to synthesize benzene derivatives and heteroaro- matic compounds, transition-metal-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions are the most elegant. In contrast, cycloaddition reactions of heavier alkene and alkyne analogues, though limited in scope, proceed uncatalyzed. In this work we present the first spontaneous cycloaddition reactions of lighter alkene and alkyne analogues. Selective addition of unactivated alkynes to boron–boron multiple bonds under ambient con- ditions yielded diborocarbon equivalents of simple aromatic hydrocarbons, including the first neutral 6p-aromatic dibora- benzene compound, a 2 p-aromatic triplet biradical 1,3-dibor- ete, and a phosphine-stabilized 2 p-homoaromatic 1,3-dihydro- 1,3-diborete. DFT calculations suggest that all three com- pounds are aromatic and show frontier molecular orbitals matching those of the related aromatic hydrocarbons, C6H6 and C4H42+, and homoaromatic C4H5+.
Among the numerous routes organic chemists have developed to synthesize benzene derivatives and heteroaro- matic compounds, transition-metal-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions are the most elegant. In contrast, cycloaddition reactions of heavier alkene and alkyne analogues, though limited in scope, proceed uncatalyzed. In this work we present the first spontaneous cycloaddition reactions of lighter alkene and alkyne analogues. Selective addition of unactivated alkynes to boron–boron multiple bonds under ambient con- ditions yielded diborocarbon equivalents of simple aromatic hydrocarbons, including the first neutral 6 π-aromatic dibora- benzene compound, a 2 π-aromatic triplet biradical 1,3-dibor- ete, and a phosphine-stabilized 2 π-homoaromatic 1,3-dihydro- 1,3-diborete. DFT calculations suggest that all three com- pounds are aromatic and show frontier molecular orbitals matching those of the related aromatic hydrocarbons, C\(_6\)H\(_6\) and C\(_4\)H\(_4\)\(^{2+}\), and homoaromatic C\(_4\)H\(_5\)\(^+\).
Despite the prevalence of stable π-complexes of most d\(^{10}\) metals, such as Cu(I) and Ni(0), with ethylene and other olefins, complexation of d\(^{10}\) Zn(II) to simple olefins is too weak to form isolable complexes due to the metal ion's limited capacity for π-backdonation. By employing more strongly donating π- ligands, namely neutral diborenes with a high-lying π(B=B) or- bital, monomeric 16-electron M(II)-diborene (M = Zn, Cd) π- complexes were synthesized in good yields. Metal–B2 π- interactions in both the solid and solution state were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analyses and their solution NMR and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, respectively. The M(II) centers adopt a trigonal planar geometry and interact almost symmetrically with both boron atoms. The MB2 planes significantly twist out of the MX\(_2\) planes about the M-centroid(B–B) vector, with angles rang- ing from 47.0° to 85.5°, depending on the steric interactions be- tween the diborene ligand and the MX\(_2\) fragment.
Under a CO atmosphere the dihydrodiborene [(cAAC)HB=BH(cAAC)] underwent coordination of CO concomitant with reversible hydrogen migration from boron to the carbene carbon atom, as well as reversible CO insertion into the B=B bond. Heating of the CO-adduct resulted in two unusual cAAC ring-expansion products, one presenting a B=C bond to a six-membered 1,2-azaborinane-3-ylidene, the other an unprecedented nine-membered cyclic alkyne resulting from reductive cleavage of CO and spontaneous C≡C triple bond formation.
Room temperature hydrogenation of an SIDep-stabilized diboryne (SIDep = 1,3-bis(diethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) and a CAAC-supported diboracumulene (CAAC = 1-(2,6- diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) provided the first selective route to the corresponding 1,2-dihydrodiborenes. DFT calculations showed an overall exothermic (ΔG = 19.4 kcal mol\(^{-1}\) two-step asynchronous H\(_2\) addition mechanism proceeding via a bridging hydride.
Simple Solution-Phase Syntheses of Tetrahalodiboranes(4) and their Labile Dimethylsulfide Adducts
(2017)
Convenient, solution-phase syntheses of tetrahalodiboranes(4) B\(_2\)F\(_4\), B\(_2\)Cl\(_4\) and B\(_2\)I\(_4\) are presented herein from common precursor B\(_2\)Br\(_4\). In addition, the dimethylsulfide adducts B\(_2\)Cl\(_4\)(SMe\(_2\))\(_2\) and B\(_2\)Br\(_4\)(SMe\(_2\))\(_2\) are conveniently prepared in one-step syntheses from the commercially-available starting material B\(_2\)(NMe\(_2\))\(_4\). The results provide simple access to the full range of tetrahalodiboranes(4) for the exploration of their untapped synthetic potential.
Recent years have seen rapid advances in the chemistry of small molecules containing electron-precise boron-boron bonds. This review provides an overview of the latest methods for the controlled synthesis of B–B single and multiple bonds as well as the ever-expanding range of reactivity displayed by the latter.
The self-stabilizing, tetrameric cyanoborylene [(cAAC)B(CN)]4 (I, cAAC = 1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) and its diborene relative, [(cAAC)(CN)B=B(CN)(cAAC)] (II), both react with disulfides and diselenides to yield the corresponding cAAC-supported cyanoboron bis(chalcogenides). Furthermore, reactions of I or II with elemental sulfur and selenium in various stoichiometries provided access to a variety of cAAC- stabilized cyanoboron-chalcogen heterocycles, including a unique dithiaborirane, a diboraselenirane, 1,3-dichalcogena-2,4-diboretanes, 1,3,4-trichalcogena- 2,5-diborolanes and a rare six-membered 1,2,4,5-tetrathia-3,6-diborinane. Stepwise addition reactions and solution stability studies provided insights into the mechanism of these reactions and the subtle differences in reactivity observed between I and II.
Upon complexation to CuOTf, a PMe\(_3\)-stabilized bis(9-anthryl) diborene slowly undergoes an intramolecular hydroarylation reaction at room temperature. Subsequent triflation of the B–H bond with CuOTf, followed by a PMe\(_3\) transfer, finally yields a cyclic sp\(^2\)-sp\(^3\) boryl-substituted boronium triflate salt.
The two-fold reduction of (cAAC)BHX\(_2\) (cAAC = 1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene; X = Cl, Br) provides a facile, high-yielding route to the dihydrodiborene (cAAC)\(_2\)B\(_2\)H\(_2\). The (chloro)hydroboryl anion reduction intermediate was successfully isolated using a crown ether. Overreduction of the diborene to its dianion [(cAAC)\(_2\)B\(_2\)H\(_2\)]\(^{2−}\) causes a decrease in the B–B bond order whereas the B–C bond orders increase.
