Cascade Dehydrogenative Hydroboration for the Synthesis of Azaborabenzofulvenes

Arylboronic Acid Pinacol Esters as Stable Boron Sources for Dihydrodibenzoborepin Derivatives and a Dibenzoborole

The general synthesis of boron-containing cyclic compounds (boracycles) necessitates toxic organotin precursors or highly reactive boron halides. Here, we report the synthesis of seven- and five-membered boracycles utilizing arylboronic acid pinacol esters (ArBpins) as stable boron sources. Grignard reagents generated from 2,2'-dibromodibenzyl or 2,2'-dibromobiphenyl reacted with ArBpins, where Ar = 9-anthryl (Anth), 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl (Mes), or 2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl (Tip), to give 10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[b,f]borepins or dibenzoborole derivatives. This Bpin-based method was successfully applied to a one-shot double boracycle formation, providing a dihydrodibenzoborepin-anthracene-dihydrodibenzoborepin triad molecule in a good yield. The dihydrodibenzoborepin bearing the Anth group was directly converted to the unsaturated borepin by NBS/AIBN. All products were characterized by NMR, HRMS, and in some cases, single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Additionally, the photophysical properties of the products are also reported.

Synthesis, Structure, and Properties of Monodispersed and Highly Luminescent Organoborane Oligomers

Organoborane oligomers with well-defined molecular structures and high luminescence are scarce, among which those with boron not used as bridging atoms are even more so. Here, a series of well-defined ethynyl-linked or butadiynyl-linked conjugated organoborane oligomers with high fluorescence quantum yield and extinction coefficient (i.e., high brightness) were prepared by coupling different building blocks featuring dithienooxadiborepine moieties. Single crystal structures of hexyl modified dithienooxadiborepine (1a-hex) and hexyl-modified butadiynyl-linked conjugated dimer (D2-hex) not only verified the identity of the molecular structures but also revealed that the introduction of the hexyl chains distorted the molecular structures due to steric hindrance. Optical measurements showed that the absorption and emission maxima of the six oligomeric molecules bathochromic shifted with increasing numbers of repeating units. Molecules without hexyl chains emit efficient fluorescence upon photoexcitation, and the fluorescence quantum efficiency of the ethynyl-linked conjugated dimer (D1) is close to unity. Theoretical calculation results using density functional theory methods are consistent with the single crystal data, allowing a better understanding of the spectral properties. Such results indicate that the method is efficient for expanding small organoborane molecules into π-conjugated oligomers, which can be used to modulate to emit different colors with high efficiency.

An Olefin-based Multi-component Reaction to 1,2-Azaborolidine Derivatives

Reaction of the borane FmesBH2·SMe2 [Fmes: 2,4,6-tris(trifluoro-methyl)phenyl] with two molar equivs of a small series of 1-alkenes followed by treatment with two molar equivalents of the bulky isonitrile CN-Xyl (Xyl:...

Zinc-Mediated Transmetalation as a Route to Anionic N-Heterocyclic Olefin Complexes in the p-Block

Anionic N-heterocyclic olefins (aNHOs) are suited well for the stabilization of low-coordinate inorganic complexes, due to their steric tunability and strong σ- and π-electron donating abilities. In this study, the new two-coordinate zinc complex (^MeIPrCH)₂Zn (^MeIPrCH = [(MeCNDipp)₂C═CH]^-, Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) is shown to participate in a broad range of metathesis reactions with main group element-based halides and hydrides. In the case of the group 14 halides, Cl₂E·dioxane (E = Ge and Sn), transmetalation occurs to form dinuclear propellane-shaped cations, [(^MeIPrCHE)₂(μ-Cl)]⁺, while the aNHO-capped phosphine ligand ^MeIPrCH-PPh₂ is obtained when (^MeIPrCH)₂Zn is combined with ClPPh₂. Lastly, ZnH₂ elimination drives transmetalation between (^MeIPrCH)₂Zn and hydroboranes and hydroalumanes, leading to Lewis acidic aNHO-supported -boryl and -alane products.

Synthesis of bis-BN-Naphthalene-Fused Oxepins and Their Photoluminescence Including White-Light Emission

A series of novel bis-BN-naphthalene-fused oxepin derivatives were synthesized via a Pd-catalyzed tandem reaction from brominated 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes and cis-bis(boryl)alkenes. X-ray crystallographic analysis revealed that bis-BN-naphthalene-fused oxepins feature a planar framework. The electronic and photophysical properties of the novel BN-naphthalene-fused oxepins were investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, which disclosed the distinct electronic and photophysical properties of the analogous hydrocarbon system. Interestingly, dual-fluorescent emissions were observed upon dissolving N-substituted derivatives 10-14 in dimethyl sulfoxide. Tunable emission colors especially for white-light emissions can be achieved by controlling the ratio of solvents, concentration, or temperature using only a single-molecule compound.

Metal-free oxidative cross-dehydrogenative coupling of quinones with benzylic C(sp3)–H bonds

A metal-free cross-dehydrogenative coupling of quinones with toluene derivatives has been established. A series of quinones were subjected to reaction with toluene derivatives in the presence of di-tertbutyl peroxide (DTBP) for direct synthesis of benzylquinones. The method exhibits good functional group tolerance, and desired products were obtained in moderate to good yields. Meanwhile, a radical pathway was proposed to describe the cross-dehydrogenative coupling of quinones with toluene derivatives.

A metal-free cross-dehydrogenative coupling of quinones with toluene derivatives has been established. A series of quinones were subjected to reaction with toluene derivatives in the presence of DTBP for direct synthesis of benzylquinones.