Synthesis and Structural Characteristics of Discrete Organoboron and Organoaluminum Hydrides Incorporating Bulky Eind Groups

Rapid, iterative syntheses of unsymmetrical di- and triarylboranes from crystalline aryldifluoroboranes

A one-pot procedure to synthesise aryldifluoroboranes, ArBF2, from bench-stable arylsilanes is presented. These ArBF2 react conveniently with aryllithium reagents to form unsymmetrical ArAr'BF and BArAr'Ar'' in high yield. Examples of all three classes of borane have been characterised crystallographically, allowing for elucidation of geometric and crystal packing trends in crystalline ArBF2.

Bis(1-Methyl-ortho-Carboranyl)Borane

The Lewis superacid, bis(1-methyl-ortho-carboranyl)borane, is rapidly accessed in two steps. It is a very effective hydroboration reagent capable of B-H addition to alkenes, alkynes, and cyclopropanes. To date, this is the first identified Lewis superacidic secondary borane and most reactive neutral hydroboration reagent.

On the Importance of Noncovalent Interactions in the Stabilization of Nonconventional Compounds Using Bulky Groups

In this article, we studied the capability of bulky groups to contribute to the stabilization of a given compound in addition to the well-known steric effect related to substituents due to their composition (alkyl chains and aromatic groups, among others). For this purpose, the recently synthesized 1-bora-3-boratabenzene anion which contains large substituents was analyzed by means of the independent gradient model (IGM), natural population analysis (NPA) at the TPSS/def2-TZVP level, force field-based energy decomposition analysis (EDA-FF) applying the universal force field (UFF), and molecular dynamics calculations under the GFN2-xTB approach. The results indicate that the bulky groups should not only be considered for their steric effects but also for their ability to stabilize a system that could be very reactive.

A computational tool to accurately and quickly predict 19F NMR chemical shifts of molecules with fluorine-carbon and fluorine-boron bonds

We report the evaluation of density-functional-theory (DFT) based procedures for predicting ¹⁹F NMR chemical shifts at modest computational cost for a range of molecules with fluorine bonds, to be used as a tool for assisting the characterisation of reaction intermediates and products and as an aid to identifying mechanistic pathways. The results for a balanced learning set of molecules were then checked using two further testing sets, resulting in the recommendation of the ωB97XD/aug-cc-pvdz DFT method and basis set as having the best combination of accuracy and computational time, with a RMS error of 3.57 ppm. Cationic molecules calculated without counter-anion showed normal errors, whilst anionic molecules showed somewhat larger errors. The method was applied to the prediction of the conformationally averaged ¹⁹F chemical shifts of 2,2,3,3,4,4,5,5-octafluoropentan-1-ol, in which gauche stereoelectronic effects involving fluorine dominate and to determining the position of coordination equilibria of fluorinated boranes as an aid to verifying the relative energies of intermediate species involved in catalytic amidation reactions involving boron catalysts.

Molecular Main Group Metal Hydrides

This review serves to document advances in the synthesis, versatile bonding, and reactivity of molecular main group metal hydrides within Groups 1, 2, and 12-16. Particular attention will be given to the emerging use of said hydrides in the rapidly expanding field of Main Group element-mediated catalysis. While this review is comprehensive in nature, focus will be given to research appearing in the open literature since 2001.

New Reactivity Patterns in 3H‐Phosphaallene Chemistry [Aryl‐P=C=C(H)‐ t Bu]: Hydroboration of the C=C Bond, Deprotonation and Trimerisation

3H‐Phosphaallenes, R−P=C=C(H)C−R’ (3), are accessible in a multigram scale on a new and facile route and show a fascinating chemical reactivity. BH₃(SMe₂) and 3 a (R=Mes*, R’=tBu) afforded by hydroboration of the C=C bonds of two phosphaallene molecules an unprecedented borane (7) with the B atom bound to two P=C double bonds. This compound represents a new FLP based on a B and two P atoms. The increased Lewis acidity of the B atom led to a different reaction course upon treatment of 3 a with H₂B‐C₆F₅(SMe₂). Hydroboration of a C=C bond of a first phosphaallene is followed in a typical FLP reaction by the coordination of a second phosphaallene molecule via B−C and P−B bond formation to yield a BP₂C₂ heterocycle (8). Its B−P bond is short and the B‐bound P atom has a planar surrounding. Treatment of 3 a with tBuLi resulted in deprotonation of the β‐C atom of the phosphaallene (9). The Li atom is bound to the P atom as demonstrated by crystal structure determination, quantum chemical calculations and reactions with HCl, Cl‐SiMe₃ or Cl‐PtBu₂. The thermally unstable phosphaallene Ph−P=C=C(H)‐tBu gave a unique trimeric secondary product by P−P, P−C and C−C bond formation. It contains a P₂C₄ heterocycle and was isolated as a W(CO)₄ complex with two P atoms coordinated to W (15).

Reactions of [(dmpe)2MnH(C2H4)]: synthesis and characterization of manganese(i) borohydride and hydride complexes

Reactions of trans-[(dmpe)₂MnH(C₂H₄)] (1) with BH₃(NMe₃), 9-BBN, and HBMes₂ yielded the manganese(i) borohydride complexes [(dmpe)₂Mn(μ-H)₂BR₂] (3: R = H, 4: R₂ = C₈H₁₄, 5: R = Mes). The reaction of 1 with BH₃(NMe₃) proceeds via ethylene substitution. By contrast, a detuerium labelling study indicates that the reaction of 1 with HBMes₂ involves initial isomerization of 1 to an unobserved 5-coordinate ethyl intermediate, [(dmpe)₂MnEt], which reacts with the hydroborane to afford EtBR₂ and [(dmpe)₂MnH], followed by reaction with a second equivalent of hydroborane to generate 5 (an analogous pathway is likely followed for other base-free hydroboranes such as 9-BBN). Identification of 3-5 as κ²-borohydride complexes, as opposed to boryl dihydride or hydroborane hydride isomers, is supported by ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Atoms in Molecules calculations. Two byproducts were observed in the syntheses of 3-5: [{(dmpe)₂MnH}₂(μ-dmpe)] (6) and [(dmpe)₂MnH(κ¹-dmpe)] (7). These complexes were independently prepared by exposure of 1 to free dmpe under an atmosphere of Ar or H₂, and the generality of this synthetic route was demonstrated by the reaction of 1 with PMe₃ (under H₂) to form [(dmpe)₂MnH(PMe₃)] (8). Complexes 6-8 can exist as isomers with either a trans or a cis relationship between the hydride and κ¹-coordinated phosphine ligands on manganese. trans to cis isomerization of 6-8 is photochemically induced, whereas the reverse reaction occurs under thermal conditions. X-ray crystal structures were obtained for 3-5, trans,trans-6, cis,cis-6, trans-7, and trans-8.

Crystal structure of di-μ-tri-hydro-(penta-fluoro-phenyl)-borato-tetra-kis-(tetra-hydro-furan)-disodium

The title compound, [Na(μ-C6F5BH3)(C4H8O)2]2, represents a dimeric structure of sodium and organoborohydride, located about a centre of inversion. The Na⋯B distances of 2.7845 (19) and 2.7494 (18) Å were apparently longer than the Li⋯B distances (2.403-2.537 Å) of the lithium organotri-hydro-borates in the previous reports. Moreover, an inter-action between the sodium atom and one fluorine atom on the 2-position of the benzene ring is observed [Na-F = 2.6373 (12) Å]. In the crystal, the dimeric mol-ecules are stacked along the b-axis via a π-π inter-action between the benzene rings.

Reaction of Dialumane Incorporating Bulky Eind Groups with Pyridines

The reaction of the bulky Eind-based dialumane, (Eind)HAl(μ-H)2AlH(Eind) (1) (Eind = 1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7-octaethyl-s-hydrindacen-4-yl), with pyridines is described. When 1 was treated with pyridine (Py) in toluene, the Py adduct of aryldihydroalumane, Py→AlH2(Eind) (2), was initially formed. Then, the hydroalumination of Py took place to yield the Py-bound aryl(1,4-dihydropyrid-1-yl)hydroalumane, Py→AlH(1,4-dihydropyrid-1-yl)(Eind) (3). A similar reaction with a stronger Lewis base, 4-pyrrolidinopyridine (PPy), produced the stable PPy adduct, PPy→AlH2(Eind) (4). The resulting organoaluminum compounds have been fully characterized by NMR spectroscopy as well as X-ray crystallography. The reaction mechanism from 1 to 3 via 2 has been examined by deuterium labeling experiments using (Eind)DAl(μ-D)2AlD(Eind) (1-d4).

Preparation of the Borane (Fmes)BH2 and its Utilization in the FLP Reduction of Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide

Treatment of 1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)benzene with n-BuLi, followed by H₃ B⋅SMe₂ and subsequent hydride removal gave the (Fmes)BH₂ reagent, which was isolated as a SMe₂ stabilized monomer or a ligand free (μ-H)₂ -bridged dimer. Reaction with Mes₂ P(vinyl) gave the respective ethylene-bridged P/B(Fmes)H FLP. It reduced carbon monoxide to the formyl stage and carbon dioxide to the formaldehyde oxidation state. Most new compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction.

π-Electron systems containing Si=Si double bonds

Sterically large substituents can provide kinetic stabilization to various types of low-coordinate compounds. For example, regarding the chemistry of the group 14 elements, since West et al. introduced the concept of kinetic protection of the otherwise highly reactive Si=Si double bond by bulky mesityl (2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) groups in 1981, a number of unsaturated compounds of silicon and its group homologs have been successfully isolated by steric effects using the appropriate large substituents. However, the functions and applications of the Si-Si π-bonds consisting of the 3pπ electrons on the formally sp2-hybridized silicon atoms have rarely been explored until 10 years ago, when Scheschkewitz and Tamao independently reported the model systems of the oligo(p-phenylenedisilenylene)s (Si-OPVs) in 2007. This review focuses on the recent advances in the chemistry of π-electron systems containing Si=Si double bonds, mainly published in the last decade. The synthesis, characterization, and potential application of a variety of donor-free π-conjugated disilene compounds are described.

Reversible 1,1-hydroaluminations and C–H activation in reactions of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene with alane

Varying the reaction ratio of cyclic (alkyl)(amino) carbene (cAAC^Et) with AlH₃·NEtMe₂ leads to the isolation of (cAAC^EtH)AlH₂·NEtMe₂1 and (cAAC^EtH)₂Al(μ-H)₂AlH₂·NEtMe₂2 and the first example of a monomeric dialkyl-aluminum hydride (cAAC^EtH)₂AlH 3.