546 Anorganische Chemie
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A series of methylene-bridged bis(triarylboranes) has been synthesized via two complementary routes using metal-free catalytic Si/B exchange condensation under mild conditions. The title compounds comprise two borane moieties that show effective internal π-conjugation involving the respective boron centers and the adjacent hetaryl groups. Conjugation between both borane units, however, is disrupted by the aliphatic linker. Cyclic voltammetry revealed minimal electronic communication between the boron centers, as evidenced by two closely spaced reduction processes. The UV-vis spectra showed bathochromic shifted absorption bands compared to related monoboranes, which is attributed to the methylene bridge. A further red-shift results upon introduction of methyl or SiMe\(_3\) groups at the terminal thiophene rings.
The reactions of carbodiimides with the iron arylborylene complex [Fe=BDur(CO)\(_{3}\)(PMe\(_{3}\))] (Dur=2,3,5,6-Me\(_{4}\)C\(_{6}\)H) and the iron bis(borylene) complex [Fe{=BDur}{=BN(SiMe\(_{3}\))\(_{2}\)}(CO)\(_{3}\)] yield a wide variety of temperature-dependent products, including known FeBNC and novel FeBNB metallacycles, complexes of N-heterocyclic boracarbene and spiro-boracarbene ligands and a unique 1,3,2,4-diazadiborolyl pianostool complex, characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The product distributions can be rationalized by considering sequences of cycloaddition, metathesis, insertion, and C−H activation pathways mainly governed by sterics.
A practical and direct method was developed for the production of versatile alkyl boronate esters via transition metal-free borylation of primary and secondary alkyl sulfones. The key to the success of the strategy is the use of bis(neopentyl glycolato) diboron (B\(_{2}\)neop\(_{2}\)), with a stoichiometric amount of base as a promoter. The practicality and industrial potential of this protocol are highlighted by its wide functional group tolerance, the late-stage modification of complex compounds, no need for further transesterification, and operational simplicity. Radical clock, radical trap experiments, and EPR studies were conducted which show that the borylation process involves radical intermediates.
A number of novel alkynyl-functionalized diarylbis(dimethylamino)diboranes(4) are prepared by salt metathesis, and the appended alkynyl groups are subjected to hydroboration. Their reactions with monohydroboranes lead to discrete boryl-appended diborane(4) species, while dihydroboranes induce their catenation to oligomeric species, the first known examples of well-characterized macromolecular species with B−B bonds. The oligomeric species were found to comprise up to ten repeat units and are soluble in common organic solvents. Some of the oligomeric species have good air stability and all were characterized by NMR and vibrational spectroscopy and size-exclusion chromatography techniques.
The parent borylene (CAAC)(Me\(_{3}\)P)BH, 1 (CAAC=cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene), acts both as a Lewis base and one-electron reducing agent towards group 13 trichlorides (ECl\(_{3}\), E=B, Al, Ga, In), yielding the adducts 1-ECl\(_{3}\) and increasing proportions of the radical cation [1]\(^{•+}\) for the heavier group 13 analogues. With boron trihalides (BX\(_{3}\), X=F, Cl, Br, I) 1 undergoes sequential adduct formation and halide abstraction reactions to yield borylboronium cations and shows an increasing tendency towards redox processes for the heavier halides. Calculations confirm that 1 acts as a strong Lewis base towards EX3 and show a marked increase in the B−E bond dissociation energies down both group 13 and the halide group.
A 1,8-naphthyridine diphosphine (NDP) reacts with boron-containing Lewis acids to generate complexes featuring a number of different naphthyridine bonding modes. When exposed to diborane B\(_{2}\)Br\(_{4}\), NDP underwent self-deprotonation to afford [NDP-B\(_{2}\)Br\(_{3}\)]Br, an unsymmetrical diborane comprised of four fused rings. The reaction of two equivalents of monoborane BBr\(_{3}\) and NDP in a non-polar solvent provided the simple phosphine-borane adduct [NDP(BBr\(_{3}\))\(_{2}\)], which then underwent intramolecular halide abstraction to furnish the salt [NDP-BBr\(_{2}\)][BBr\(_{4}\)], featuring a different coordination mode from that of [NDP-B\(_{2}\)Br\(_{3}\)]Br. Direct deprotonation of NDP by KHMDS or PhCH2K generates mono- and dipotassium reagents, respectively. The monopotassium reagent reacts with one or half an equivalent of B\(_{2}\)(NMe\(_{2}\))\(_{2}\)Cl\(_{2}\) to afford NDP-based diboranes with three or four amino substituents.
The synthesis, photophysical, and electrochemical properties of selectively mono-, bis- and tris-dimethylamino- and trimethylammonium-substituted bis-triarylborane bithiophene chromophores are presented along with the water solubility and singlet oxygen sensitizing efficiency of the cationic compounds Cat\(^{1+}\), Cat\(^{2+}\), Cat(i)\(^{2+}\), and Cat\(^{3+}\). Comparison with the mono-triarylboranes reveals the large influence of the bridging unit on the properties of the bis-triarylboranes, especially those of the cationic compounds. Based on these preliminary investigations, the interactions of Cat\(^{1+}\), Cat\(^{2+}\), Cat(i)\(^{2+}\), and Cat\(^{3+}\) with DNA, RNA, and DNApore were investigated in buffered solutions. The same compounds were investigated for their ability to enter and localize within organelles of human lung carcinoma (A549) and normal lung (WI38) cells showing that not only the number of charges but also their distribution over the chromophore influences interactions and staining properties.
Boroles are attracting broad interest for their myriad and diverse applications, including in synthesis, small molecule activation and functional materials. Their properties and reactivity are closely linked to the cyclic conjugated diene system, which has been shown to participate in cycloaddition reactions, such as the Diels-Alder reaction with alkynes. The reaction steps leading to boranorbornadienes, borepins and tricyclic boracyclohexenes from the thermal reaction of boroles with alkynes are seemingly well understood as judged from the literature. Herein, we question the long-established mechanistic picture of pericyclic rearrangements by demonstrating that seven-membered borepins (i. e., heptaphenylborepin and two derivatives substituted with a thienyl and chloride substituent on boron) exist in a dynamic equilibrium with the corresponding bicyclic boranorbornadienes, the direct Diels-Alder products, but are not isolable products from the reactions. Heating gradually converts the isomeric mixtures into fluorescent tricyclic boracyclohexenes, the most stable isomers in the series. Results from mechanistic DFT calculations reveal that the tricyclic compounds derive from the boranorbornadienes and not the borepins, which were previously believed to be intermediates in purely pericyclic processes.
Cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene-stabilized (cyano)hydroboryl anions were synthesized by deprotonation of (cyano)dihydroborane precursors. While they display boron-centered nucleophilic reactivity towards organohalides, generating fully unsymmetrically substituted cyano(hydro)organoboranes, they show cyano-nitrogen-centered nucleophilic reactivity towards haloboranes, resulting in the formation of hitherto unknown linear 2-aza-1,4-diborabutatrienes.
Bis(1-(4-tolyl)-carboran-2-yl)-(4-tolyl)-borane [(1-(4-MeC\(_{6}\)H\(_{4}\))-closo-1,2-C\(_{2}\)B\(_{10}\)H\(_{10}\)-2-)\(_{2}\)(4-MeC\(_{6}\)H\(_{4}\))B] (1), a new bis(o-carboranyl)-(R)-borane was synthesised by lithiation of the o-carboranyl precursor and subsequent salt metathesis reaction with (4-tolyl)BBr\(_{2}\). Cyclic voltammetry experiments on 1 show multiple distinct reduction events with a one-electron first reduction. In a selective reduction experiment the corresponding paramagnetic radical anion 1\(^{.−}\) was isolated and characterized. Single-crystal structure analyses allow an in-depth comparison of 1, 1\(^{.−}\), their calculated geometries, and the S\(_{1}\) excited state of 1. Photophysical studies of 1 show a charge transfer (CT) emission with low quantum yield in solution but a strong increase in the solid state. TD-DFT calculations were used to identify transition-relevant orbitals.
A series of highly substituted 1,2-azaborinines, including a phenylene-bridged bis-1,2-azaborinine, was synthesized from the reaction of 1,2-azaborete rhodium complexes with variously substituted alkynes. 1-Rhoda-3,2-azaborole complexes, which are accessible by phosphine addition to the corresponding 1,2-azaborete complexes, were also found to be suitable precursors for the synthesis of 1,2-azaborinines and readily reacted with alkynyl-substituted 1,2-azaborinines to generate new regioisomers of bi-1,2-azaborinines, which feature directly connected aromatic rings. Their molecular structures, which can be viewed as boron-nitrogen isosteres of biphenyls, show nearly perpendicular 1,2-azaborinine rings. The new method using rhodacycles instead of 1,2-azaborete complexes as precursors is shown to be more effective, allowing the synthesis of a wider range of 1,2-azaborinines.
Two N-methylpyridinium compounds and analogous N-protonated salts of 2- and 2,7-substituted 4-pyridyl-pyrene compounds were synthesised and their crystal structures, photophysical properties both in solution and in the solid state, electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties were studied. Upon methylation or protonation, the emission maxima are significantly bathochromically shifted compared to the neutral compounds, although the absorption maxima remain almost unchanged. As a result, the cationic compounds show very large apparent Stokes shifts of up to 7200 cm\(^{-1}\). The N-methylpyridinium compounds have a single reduction at ca. −1.5 V vs. Fc/Fc\(^+\) in MeCN. While the reduction process was reversible for the 2,7-disubstituted compound, it was irreversible for the mono-substituted one. Experimental findings are complemented by DFT and TD-DFT calculations. Furthermore, the N-methylpyridinium compounds show strong interactions with calf thymus (ct)-DNA, presumably by intercalation, which paves the way for further applications of these multi-functional compounds as potential DNA-bioactive agents.
A one-pot synthesis of a CAAC-stabilized, unsymmetrical, cyclic diborene was achieved via consecutive two-electron reduction steps from an adduct of CAAC and B\(_2\)Br\(_4\)(SMe\(_2\))\(_2\). Theoretical studies revealed that this diborene has a considerably smaller HOMO–LUMO gap than those of reported NHC- and phosphine-supported diborenes. Complexation of the diborene with [AuCl(PCy\(_3\))] afforded two diborene–Au\(^I\) π complexes, while reaction with DurBH\(_2\), P\(_4\) and a terminal acetylene led to the cleavage of B−H, P−P, and C−C π bonds, respectively. Thermal rearrangement of the diborene gave an electron-rich cyclic alkylideneborane, which readily coordinated to Ag\(^I\) via its B=C double bond.
The NHC-stabilised diboryne (B\(_2\)(SIDep)\(_2\); SIDep=1,3-bis(2,6-diethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) undergoes a high-yielding P−P bond activation with tetraethyldiphosphine at room temperature to form a B\(_2\)P\(_2\) heterocycle via a diphosphoryldiborene by 1,2-diphosphination. The heterocycle can be oxidised to a radical cation and a dication, respectively, depending on the oxidant used and its counterion. Starting from the planar, neutral 1,3-bis(alkylidene)-1,3-diborata-2,4-diphosphoniocyclobutane, each oxidation step leads to decreased B−B distances and loss of planarity by cationisation. X-ray analyses in conjunction with DFT and CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations reveal closed-shell singlet, butterfly-shaped structures for the NHC-stabilised dicationic B\(_2\)P\(_2\) rings, with their diradicaloid, planar-ring isomers lying close in energy.
Adducts of the parent boraphosphaketene H\(_2\)BPCO and their decarbonylative insertion chemistry
(2021)
The first examples of Lewis base adducts of the parent boraphosphaketene (H\(_2\)B-PCO) and their cyclodimers are prepared. One of these adducts is shown to undergo mild decarbonylation and phosphinidene insertion into a B−C bond of a borole, forming very rare examples of 1,2-phosphaborinines, B/P isosteres of benzene. The strong donor properties of these 1,2-phosphaborinines are confirmed by the synthesis of their π complexes with the Group 6 metals.
The dimethylbismuth cation: entry into dative Bi-Bi bonding and unconventional methyl exchange
(2021)
The dimethyl bismuth cation, [BiMe\(_2\)(SbF\(_6\))], has been isolated and characterized. Reaction with BiMe\(_3\) allows access to the first compound featuring Bi→Bi donor–acceptor bonding. In solution, dynamic behavior with methyl exchange via an unusual S\(_E\)2 mechanism is observed, underlining the unique properties of bismuth species as soft Lewis acids with the ability to undergo reversible Bi−C bond cleavage.
The reduction of a cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene (CAAC)-stabilized organoberyllium chloride yields the first neutral beryllium radical, which was characterized by EPR, IR, UV/Vis spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. DFT calculations show significant spin density at beryllium and confirm donor–acceptor bonding between an alkylberyllium radical fragment and a neutral CAAC ligand.
Phenylpyridyl-fused boroles [TipPBB1]\(_4\) and TipPBB2 were synthesized and their properties investigated. [TipPBB1]\(_4\) forms a tetramer in both the solid state and solution. TipPBB2 contains a 4-coordinate boron atom in the solid state but dissociates to give a 3-coordinate boron species in solution. TipPBB2 shows interesting temperature-dependent dual fluorescence in solution because of the equilibrium between 3- and 4-coordinate boron species due to weak N⋅⋅⋅B intermolecular coordination.
Reduction of (CAAC)BBr\(_2\)(NCS) (CAAC=cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene) in the presence of a Lewis base L yields tricoordinate (CAAC)LB(NCS) borylenes which undergo reversible E/Z-isomerization. The same reduction in the absence of L yields deep blue, bis(CAAC)-stabilized, boron-doped, aromatic thiazolothiazoles resulting from the dimerization of dicoordinate (CAAC)B(NCS) borylene intermediates.
The reductive coupling of an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) stabilized (dibromo)vinylborane yields a 1,2-divinyl- diborene, which, although isoelectronic to a 1,3,5-triene, displays no extended p conjugation because of twisting of the C\(_2\)B\(_2\)C\(_2\) chain. While this divinyldiborene coordinates to copper(I) and platinum(0) in an η\(^2\)-B\(_2\) and η\(^4\)-C\(_2\)B\(_2\) fashion, respectively, it undergoes a complex rearrangement to an η\(^4\)-1,3-diborete upon complexation with nickel(0).
An N-heterocyclic-carbene-stabilized diboryne undergoes rapid, high-yielding and catalyst-free hydroamina- tion reactions with primary amines, yielding 1-amino-2-hydro- diborenes, which can be considered boron analogues of enamines. The electronics of the organic substituent at nitrogen influence the structure and further reactivity of the diborene product. With electron-rich anilines, a second hydroamination can occur at the diborene to generate 1,1-diamino-2,2-dihy- drodiboranes. With isopropylamine, the electronic influence of the alkyl substituent upon the diborene leads to an unprece- dented boron-mediated intramolecular N-dearylation reaction of an N-heterocyclic carbene unit.
Five compounds containing boron–boron multiple bonds are shown to undergo hydrophosphination reactions with diphenylphosphine in the absence of a catalyst. With diborenes, the products obtained are highly dependent on the substitution pattern at the boron atoms, with both 1,1- and 1,2- hydrophosphinations observed. With a symmetrical diboryne, 1,2-hydrophosphination yields a hydro(phosphino)diborene. The different mechanistic pathways for the hydrophosphination of diborenes are rationalised with the aid of density functional theory calculations.
Treatment of an anionic dimanganaborylene complex ([{Cp(CO)\(_2\)Mn}\(_2\)B]\(^-\)) with coinage metal cations stabilized by a very weakly coordinating Lewis base (SMe\(_2\)) led to the coordination of the incoming metal and subsequent displacement of dimethylsulfide in the formation of hexametalladiborides featuring planar four-membered M\(_2\)B\(_2\) cores (M = Cu, Au) comparable to transition metal clusters constructed around four-membered rings composed solely of coinage metals. The analogies between compounds consisting of B\(_2\)M\(_2\) units and M\(_4\) (M = Cu, Au) units speak to the often overlooked metalloid nature of boron. Treatment of one of these compounds (M = Cu) with a Lewis-basic metal fragment (Pt(PCy\(_3\))\(_2\)) led to the formation of a tetrametallaboride featuring two manganese, one copper and one platinum atom, all bound to boron in a geometry not yet seen for this kind of compound. Computational examination suggests that this geometry is the result of d\(^{10}\)-d\(^{10}\) dispersion interactions between the copper and platinum fragments.
Whereas the reduction of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-stabilised cymantrenyldibromoboranes, (NHC)BBr\(_2\)Cym, in benzene results in formation of the corresponding diborenes (NHC)\(_2\)B\(_2\)Cym\(_2\), a change of solvent to THF yields a borylene of the form (NHC)\(_2\)BCym, stabilised through its boratafulvene resonance form.
Die Reaktion zwischen Aryl‐ und Amino(dihydro)boranen und Dibora[2]ferrocenophan 1 führt zur Bildung von 1,3‐trans‐Dihydrotriboranen durch formale Hydrierung und Insertion eines Borylens in die B=B Doppelbindung. Die Aryltriboran‐Derivate unterliegen einer reversiblen Photoisomerisierung zugunsten eines cis‐1,2‐μ‐H‐3‐Hydrotriborans, während eine Hydridabstraktion zu kationischen Triboranen führt, welche die ersten doppelt basenstabilisierten B\(_3\)H\(_4\)\(^+\)‐Analoga darstellen.
The electron‐precise binary boron subhalide species [B\(_2\)X\(_6\)]\(^{2−}\) X=F, Br, I) were synthesized and their structures confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. The existence of the previously claimed [B\(_2\)Cl\(_6\)]\(^{2−}\), which had been questioned, was also confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. The dianions are isoelectronic to hexahaloethanes, are subhalide analogues of the well‐known tetrahaloborate anions (BX\(_4\)\(^−\)), and are rare examples of molecular electron‐precise binary boron species beyond B\(_2\)X\(_4\), BX\(_3\), and [BX\(_4\)]\(^−\).
Die elektronenpräzisen binären Borsubhalogenide [B\(_2\)X\(_6\)]\(^{2−}\) (X=F, Br, I) wurden synthetisiert und strukturell im Festkörper untersucht. Zudem konnte die vermutete Existenz von [B\(_2\)Cl\(_6\)]\(^{2−}\) mittels Röntgendiffraktometrie nachgewiesen werden. Diese Dianionen sind isoelektronisch zu den Hexahalogeniden des Ethans und können als Homologe des Tetrahalogenborat‐Anions BX\(_4\)\(^−\) betrachtet werden. Darüber hinaus gehören sie zu den seltenen Beispielen von elektronenpräzisen binären Borverbindungen (B\(_2\)X\(_4\), BX\(_3\), [BX\(_4\)]\(^−\)).
Anhand der ersten Festkörperstrukturen von Dibortetraiodid (B\(_2\)I\(_4\)) wird gezeigt, dass dieses nicht, wie lange angenommen, analog zu den leichteren Dibortetrahalogeniden B\(_2\)F\(_4\), B\(_2\)Cl\(_4\) und B\(_2\)Br\(_4\) in allen Aggregatzuständen in Form diskreter Moleküle mit planaren, dreifach koordinierten Boratomen vorliegt. Röntgenstrukturanalysen, Festkörper‐NMR‐ und IR‐Messungen zeigen, dass B\(_2\)I\(_4\) im Festkörper in zwei polymeren Konformeren vorkommt, die tetraedrisch koordinierte Boratome enthalten. Anhand von DFT‐Rechnungen werden die IR‐Spektren in Lösung und im Festkörper simuliert und mit den experimentellen Daten verglichen.
The steric and electronic properties of aryl substituents in monoaryl borohydrides (Li[ArBH\(_3\)]) and dihydroboranes were systematically varied and their reactions with [Ru(PCy\(_3\))\(_2\)HCl(H\(_2\))] (Cy: cyclohexyl) were studied, resulting in bis(σ)‐borane or terminal borylene complexes of ruthenium. These variations allowed for the investigation of the factors involved in the activation of dihydroboranes in the synthesis of terminal borylene complexes. The complexes were studied by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction analysis, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The experimental and computational results suggest that the ortho‐substitution of the aryl groups is necessary for the formation of terminal borylene complexes.
2,2′-Bipyridyl is shown to spontaneously abstract a borylene fragment (R–B:) from various hypovalent boron compounds. This process is a redox reaction in which the bipyridine is reduced and becomes a dianionic substituent bound to boron through its two nitrogen atoms. Various transition metal–borylene complexes and diboranes, as a well as a diborene, take part in this reaction. In the latter case, our results show an intriguing example of the homolytic cleavage of a B═B double bond.
We synthesized new pyrene derivatives with strong bis(para ‐methoxyphenyl)amine donors at the 2,7‐positions and n ‐azaacene acceptors at the K‐region of pyrene. The compounds possess a strong intramolecular charge transfer, leading to unusual properties such as emission in the red to NIR region (700 nm), which has not been reported before for monomeric pyrenes. Detailed photophysical studies reveal very long intrinsic lifetimes of >100 ns for the new compounds, which is typical for 2,7‐substituted pyrenes but not for K‐region substituted pyrenes. The incorporation of strong donors and acceptors leads to very low reduction and oxidation potentials, and spectroelectrochemical studies show that the compounds are on the borderline between localized Robin‐Day class‐II and delocalized Robin‐Day class‐III species.
N-Heterocyclic Carbene and Cyclic (Alkyl)(amino)carbene Complexes of Titanium(IV) and Titanium(III)
(2020)
The reaction of one and two equivalents of the N ‐heterocyclic carbene IMes [IMes = 1,3‐bis(2,4,6‐trimethyl‐phenyl)imidazolin‐2‐ylidene] or the cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene cAAC\(^{Me}\) [cAAC\(^{Me}\) = 1‐(2,6‐diisopropyl‐phenyl)‐3,3,5,5‐tetra‐methylpyrrolidin‐2‐ylidene] with [TiCl\(_{4}\)] in n ‐hexane results in the formation of mono‐ and bis‐carbene complexes [TiCl\(_{4}\)(IMes)] 1 , [TiCl\(_{4}\)(IMes)2] 2 , [TiCl\(_{4}\)(cAAC\(^{Me}\))] 3 , and [TiCl\(_{4}\)(cAAC\(^{Me}\))\(_{2}\)] 4 , respectively. For comparison, the titanium(IV) NHC complex [TiCl\(_{4}\)(Ii Pr\(^{Me}\))] 5 (Ii Pr\(^{Me}\) = 1,3‐diisopropyl‐4,5‐dimethyl‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The reaction of [TiCl\(_{4}\)(IMes)] 1 with PMe\(_{3}\) affords the mixed substituted complex [TiCl\(_{4}\)(IMes)(PMe\(_{3}\))] 6 . The reactions of [TiCl\(_{3}\)(THF)\(_{3}\)] with two equivalents of the carbenes IMes and cAAC\(^{Me}\) in n ‐hexane lead to the clean formation of the titanium(III) complexes [TiCl\(_{3}\)(IMes)\(_{2}\)] 7 and [TiCl\(_{3}\)(cAAC\(^{Me}\))\(_{2}\)] 8 . Compounds 1 –8 have been completely characterized by elemental analysis, IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and for 2 –5 , 7 and 8 by X‐ray diffraction. Magnetometry in solution, EPR and UV/Vis spectroscopy and DFT calculations performed on 7 and 8 are indicative of a predominantly metal‐centered d\(^{1}\)‐radical in both cases.
The reaction of aryl‐ and amino(dihydro)boranes with dibora[2]ferrocenophane 1 leads to the formation 1,3‐trans ‐dihydrotriboranes by formal hydrogenation and insertion of a borylene unit into the B=B bond. The aryltriborane derivatives undergo reversible photoisomerization to the cis ‐1,2‐μ‐H‐3‐hydrotriboranes, while hydride abstraction affords cationic triboranes, which represent the first doubly base‐stabilized B3H4\(^+\) analogues.
Tetraiododiborane(4) (B\(_2\)I\(_4\)) is a Polymer based on sp\(^3\) Boron in the Solid State
(2020)
Herein we present the first solid‐state structures of tetraiododiborane(4) (B\(_2\)I\(_4\)), which was long believed to exist in all phases as discrete molecules with planar, tricoordinate boron atoms, like the lighter tetrahalodiboranes(4) B\(_2\)F\(_4\), B\(_2\)Cl\(_4\), and B\(_2\)Br\(_4\). Single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, solid‐state NMR, and IR measurements indicate that B\(_2\)I\(_4\) in fact exists as two different polymeric forms in the solid state, both of which feature boron atoms in tetrahedral environments. DFT calculations are used to simulate the IR spectra of the solution and solid‐state structures, and these are compared with the experimental spectra.
A 1,4,2,3‐diazadiborinine derivative was found to form Lewis adducts with strong two‐electron donors such as N‐heterocyclic and cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes. Depending on the donor, some of these Lewis pairs are thermally unstable, converting to sole B,N‐embedded products upon gentle heating. The products of these reactions, which have been fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, were identified as B,N‐heterocycles with fused 1,5,2,4‐diazadiborepine and 1,4,2‐diazaborinine rings. Computational modelling of the reaction mechanism provides insight into the formation of these unique structures, suggesting that a series of B−H, C−N, and B−B bond activation steps are responsible for these “intercalation” reactions between the 1,4,2,3‐diazadiborinine and NHCs.
N‐heterocyclic olefins (NHOs), relatives of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), exhibit high nucleophilicity and soft Lewis basic character. To investigate their π‐electron donating ability, NHOs were attached to triarylborane π‐acceptors (A) giving donor (D)–π–A compounds 1–3. In addition, an enamine π‐donor analogue (4) was synthesized for comparison. UV–visible absorption studies show a larger red shift for the NHO‐containing boranes than for the enamine analogue, a relative of cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbenes (CAACs). Solvent‐dependent emission studies indicate that 1–4 have moderate intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) behavior. Electrochemical investigations reveal that the NHO‐containing boranes have extremely low reversible oxidation potentials (e.g., for 3, \(E^{ox}_{1/2}\) =−0.40 V vs. ferrocene/ferrocenium, Fc/Fc\(^+\), in THF). Time‐dependent (TD) DFT calculations show that the HOMOs of 1–3 are much more destabilized than that of the enamine‐containing 4, which confirms the stronger donating ability of NHOs.
The bis(N-heterocyclic carbene)(diphenylacetylene)palladium complex Pd(ITMe)\(_2\)(PhCCPh)] (ITMe=1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene) acts as a highly active pre-catalyst in the diboration and silaboration of azobenzenes to synthesize a series of novel functionalized hydrazines. The reactions proceed using commercially available diboranes and silaboranes under mild reaction conditions.
The reductive coupling of an NHC-stabilized aryldibromoborane yields a mixture of trans- and cis-diborenes in which the aryl groups are coplanar with the diborene core. Under dilute reduction conditions two diastereomers of a borirane-borane intermediate are isolated, which upon further reduction give rise to the aforementioned diborene mixture. DFT calculations suggest a mechanism proceeding via nucleophilic attack of a dicoordinate borylene intermediate on the aryl ring and subsequent intramolecular B-B bond formation.
A compound with a boron-boron triple bond is shown to undergo stepwise hydroboration reactions with catecholborane to yield an unsymmetrical hydro(boryl)diborene and a 2,3-dihydrotetraborane. Abstraction of H– from the latter compound produces an unusual cationic, planar tetraborane with a hydrogen atom bridging the central B2 moiety. Spectroscopic and crystallographic data and DFT calculations support a ‘protonated diborene’ structure for this compound, which can also be accessed via direct protonation of the corresponding diborene.
The reaction of [(cAAC\(^{Me}\))BH\(_{3}\)] (cAAC\(^{Me}\) = 1-(2,6-iPr\(_{2}\)C\(_{6}\)H\(_{3}\))-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) with a range of organolithium compounds led to the exclusive formation of the corresponding (dihydro)organoborates, Li\(^{+}\)[(cAAC\(^{Me}\)H)BH\(_{2}\)R]− (R = sp\(^{3}\)-, sp\(^{2}\)-, or sp-hybridised organic substituent), by migration of one boron-bound hydrogen atom to the adjacent carbene carbon of the cAAC ligand. A subsequent deprotonation/salt metathesis reaction with Me3SiCl or spontaneous LiH elimination yielded the neutral cAAC-supported mono(organo)boranes, [(cAAC\(^{Me}\)H)BH\(_{2}\)R]− (R]. Similarly the reaction of [cAAC\(^{Me}\))BH\(_{3}\)] with a neutral donor base L resulted in adduct formation by shuttling one boron-bound hydrogen to the cAAC ligand, to generate [(cAAC\(^{Me}\)H)BH\(_{2}\)L], either irreversibly (L = cAAC\(^{Me}\)) or reversibly (L = pyridine). Variable-temperature NMR data and DFT calculations on [(cAAC\(^{Me}\)H)BH\(_{2}\)(cAAC\(^{Me}\))] show that the hydrogen on the former carbene carbon atom exchanges rapidly with the boron-bound hydrides.
A set of diboryldiborenes are prepared by the mild, catalyst-free, room-temperature diboration of the B–B triple bonds of doubly base-stabilized diborynes. Two of the product diboryldiborenes are found to be air- and water-stable in the solid state, an effect that is attributed to their high crystallinity and extreme insolubility in a wide range of solvents.
The study of main-group molecules that behave and react similarly to transition-metal (TM) complexes has attracted significant interest in recent decades. Most notably, the attractive idea of replacing the all-too-often rare and costly metals from catalysis has motivated efforts to develop main-group-element-mediated reactions. Main-group elements, however, lack the electronic flexibility of TM complexes that arises from combinations of empty and filled d orbitals and that seem ideally suited to bind and activate many substrates. In this review, we look at boron, an element that despite its nonmetal nature, low atomic weight, and relative redox staticity has achieved great milestones in terms of TM-like reactivity. We show how in interelement cooperative systems, diboron molecules, and hypovalent complexes the fifth element can acquire a truly metallomimetic character. As we discuss, this character is powerfully demonstrated by the reactivity of boron-based molecules with H2, CO, alkynes, alkenes and even with N2.
A series of 22 new bis(phosphine), bis(carbene) and bis(isonitrile) tetrahalodiborane adducts has been synthesized, either by direct adduct formation with highly sensitive B2X4 precursors (X = Cl, Br, I) or by ligand exchange at stable B2X4(SMe2)2 precursors (X = Cl, Br) with labile dimethylsulfide ligands. The isolated compounds have been fully characterized using NMR spectroscopic, (C,H,N)- elemental and, for 20 of these compounds, X-ray crystallographic analysis, revealing an unexpected variation in the bonding motifs. Besides the classical B2X4L2 diborane(6) adducts, some of the more sterically demanding carbene ligands induce a halide displacement leading to the first halide-bridged monocationic diboron species, [B2X3L2]A (A = BCl4, Br, I). Furthermore, low-temperature 1:1 reactions of B2Cl4 with sterically demanding N-heterocyclic carbenes led to the formation of kinetically unstable mono-adducts, one of which was structurally characterized. A comparison of the NMR and structural data of new and literature-known bis-adducts shows several trends pertaining to the nature of the halides and the stereoelectronic properties of the Lewis bases employed.
The addition of alkynes to a staturated N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-supported diboryne results in spontaneous cycloaddition, with complete B≡B and C≡C triple bond cleavage, NHC ring- expansion and activation of a variety of C-H bonds, leading to the formation of complex mixtures of fused B,N-heterocycles.
The transfer hydrogenation of NHC-supported diborenes with dimethylamine borane proceeds with high selectivity for the trans-1,2-dihydrodiboranes(6). DFT calculations suggest a stepwise proton-first-hydride-second reaction mechanism via an intermediate μ-hydrodiboronium dimethylaminoborate ion pair.
In this work, two new quadrupolar A-π-D-π-A chromophores have been prepared featuring a strongly electron- donating diborene core and strongly electron-accepting dimesitylboryl F(BMes2) and bis(2,4,6-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)boryl (BMes2) end groups. Analysis of the compounds by NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry and UV-vis-NIR absorption and emission spectroscopy indicated that the compounds possess extended conjugated π-systems spanning their B4C8 cores. The combination of exceptionally potent π-donor (diborene) and π- acceptor (diarylboryl) groups, both based on trigonal boron, leads to very small HOMO-LUMO gaps, resulting in strong absorption in the near-IR region with maxima in THF at 840 and 1092 nm, respectively, and very high extinction coefficients of ca. 120,000 M-1cm-1. Both molecules also display weak near-IR fluorescence with small Stokes shifts.
The lability of B=B, B-P and B-halide bonds is combined in the syntheses of the first diiododiborenes. In a series of reactivity tests, these diiododiborenes demonstrate cleavage of all six of their central bonds in different ways, leading to products of B=B hydrogenation and dihalogenation as well as halide exchange.
A doubly base-stabilized diborane based on a benzylphosphine linker was prepared by a salt elimination reaction between 2-LiC\(_6\)H\(_4\)CH\(_2\)PCy\(_2\).Et\(_2\)O and B\(_2\)Br\(_4\). This compound was reduced with KC8 to its corresponding diborene, with the benzylphosphine forming a five-membered chelate. The diborene reacts with butadiene, 2-trimethylsiloxy-1,3-butadiene and isoprene to form 4,5-diboracyclohexenes, which interconvert between their 1,1- (geminal) and 1,2- (vicinal) chelated isomers. The 1,1-chelated diborene undergoes a halide-catalysed isomerisation into its thermodynamically favoured 1,2-isomer, which undergoes Diels-Alder reactions more slowly than the kinetic product.
Sterically unencumbered diborenes based on a benzylphosphine chelate undergo diboration reactions with bis(catecholato)diboron in the absence of a catalyst to yield tetraboranes. The symmetrical diborenes studied undergo 1,2- diborations, whereas an unsymmetrical derivative was found to yield a triborylborane-phosphine adduct as the result of a formal 1,1-diboration. A related borylborylene compound also underwent a 1,2-diboration to produce a borylene-borane adduct.
The desymmetrization of the cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene-supported diboracumulene, B\(_2\)(cAAC\(^{Me}\))\(_2\) (cAAC\(^{Me}\) = 1- (2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) by mono-adduct formation with IMe\(^{Me}\) (1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) yields the zerovalent sp-sp\(^2\) diboron compound B\(_2\)(cAAC\(^{Me}\))\(_2\)(IMe\(^{Me}\)), which provides a versatile platform for the synthesis of novel symmetrical and unsymmetrical zerovalent sp\(^2\)-sp\(^2\) diboron compounds by adduct formation with IMe\(^{Me}\) and CO, respectively. Furthermore, B\(_2\)(cAAC\(^{Me}\))\(_2\)(IMe\(^{Me}\)) displays enhanced reactivity compared to its symmetrical precursor, undergoing spontaneous intramolecular C-H activation and facile twofold hydrogenation, the latter resulting in B-B bond cleavage and the formation of the mixed-base parent borylene, (cAAC\(^{Me}\))(IMe\(^{Me}\))BH.