Transient Raman detection of excited state electron,transfer to methyl viologen from photoexcited molecular reagents in fluid solution and anchored to SiO2

The lowest electronic excited state of the complexes [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine)₃]²⁺, fac-[ClRe (CO)₃(2,2′-bipyridine)], and fac-[(pyridine) Re (CO)₃(2,2′-bipyridine)]⁺ can be quenched by methyl viologen, MV²⁺, N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium, in fluid solutions. The quenching obeys Stern—Volmer kinetics as deduced from plots of relative luminescence quantum yield vs [MV²⁺], and the data are consistent with a quenching process that is essentially diffusion controlled. Pulsed laser excitation (18 ns, 354.7 nm frequency tripled Nd: YAG) of the metal complexes in the presence of MV²⁺ shows that a detectable fraction of the quenching results in net electron transfer to form MV⁺. The MV⁺ is detectable by resonance Raman scattering from the trailing portion of the excitation pulse. Excited state electron transfer to MV²⁺ from a photo-excited complex anchored to SiO₂ has also been detected by transient Raman spectroscopy. High surface area SiO₂ was functionalized by reaction with 4-[2-(trimethoxysilyl)ethyl]pyridine to give [SiO₂]-SiEtpyr. Reaction of [SiO₂]-SiEtpyr with [(CH₃CN)Re(CO)₃(2,2′-bipyridine)]⁺ then yields [SiO₂]-[(SiEtpyr) Re (CO)₃ (2,2′-bipyridine)]⁺. Electron transfer quenching of the photo-excited immobilized Re complex occurs when suspended in CH₃CN solutions of MV²⁺ to yield MV⁺ as detected by resonance Raman scattering and by lifetime attenuation in the presence of MV²⁺.     

Electron transport reactions in immobilized liquid membranes: A comparison of the carriers vitamin K3 and 2-tert-butylanthraquinone

Electron transport in immobilized liquid membranes was studied in the reagent concentration-dependent regime. The velocity dependence of cells utilizing Vitamin K₃ (VK₃) and 2-tert-butylanthraquinone (TBAQ) as carriers was determined. The velocity for the VK₃ cell was proportional to the product [MV⁺]^0.5[VK₃]^0.9 [Fe(phen₃³⁺]^0.5 exp 40 kJ/RT; that of the TBAQ cell was proportional to the product [MV⁺]^1.3 [TBAQ]^1.5 [Fe(phen)₃³⁺]^0.9 exp 10 kJ/RT. The velocity of electron transport was kinetically controlled at the oxidant interface as verified by independent rate measurements. The rate constant for the reaction of MV⁺ with TBAQ was 8.4 x 10⁸ M⁻¹-sec⁻¹ (reductant interface); for the reaction of H₂TBAQ with Fe(phen)₃³⁺, it was 34 M⁻¹-sec⁻¹(oxidant interface). The velocity dependence reduced to the following in the concentration independent regime: for the TBAQ cell, v ∞ exp 10 kJ/RT ([MV⁺] >0.6 mM, [TBAQ] >0.2 M, [Fe(phen)₃³⁺] > 5 mM, [Ru(bpy)₃²⁺] > 0.2 mM); for the VK₃ cell, v ∞ [VK₃] exp 40 kJ/RT ([MV⁺] > 0.4 mM, [Fe(phen)₃³⁺] > 5 mM, [Ru(bpy)₃³⁺] > 0.2 mM). The mechanism of electron transport in the TBAQ cell is best interpreted to involve formation of semiquinone and hydroquinone in the membrane which then react with Fe(phen)₃³⁺ in the rate-limiting electron transfer step.     

The σ‐Aromatic Clusters [Zn3]+ and [Zn2Cu]: Embryonic Brass

The triangular clusters [Zn₃Cp*₃]⁺ and [Zn₂CuCp*₃] were obtained by addition of the in situ generated, electrophilic, and isolobal species [ZnCp*]⁺ and [CuCp*] to Carmona’s compound, [Cp*Zn? ZnCp*], without splitting the Zn? Zn bond. The choice of non‐coordinating fluoroaromatic solvents was crucial. The bonding situations of the all‐hydrocarbon‐ligand‐protected clusters were investigated by quantum chemical calculations revealing a high degree of σ‐aromaticity similar to the triatomic hydrogen ion [H₃]⁺. The new species serve as molecular building units of Cu_nZn_m nanobrass clusters as indicated by LIFDI mass spectrometry.     

Inclusion of methylviologen dication in a cadmium tetracyanoplatinate host clathrate showing photochromism and photoluminescence modulation

A cadmium tetracyanoplatinate host clathrate, (MV)[Cd₂{Pt(CN)₄}₃]?2(H₂O) (1), including a methylviologen dication (MV²⁺) was synthesized, and the crystal structures, photochromic and photoluminescence properties were investigated. In 1, the alternatively parallel stacking between the MV²⁺ dications as electron acceptors in the channels and the electron donors [Pt1(CN)₄]^2– units in the host frameworks give a unique donor-acceptor (DA) system. Under UV irradiation, the electron transfer between MV²⁺ and [Pt(CN)₄]^2– ions generates MV^·+ radicals with a photochromic behavior from pale-yellow to blue. This process occurs through single-crystal-to-single-crystal (SCSC) transformation and obvious structure variation of viologen cations is successfully observed. Moreover, the spectral overlap between the emission bands of 1 and the absorption around 623 nm for the MV^·+ radicals leads to a modulation of the photoluminescence.     

Photo-induced electron transfer study of rhenium(I) bipyridyl complexes with covalently linked phenothiazine donor through different bridge

A novel rhenium(I) bipyridyl complex 1a, [(4,4’-di-COOEt-bpy)Re(CO)₃(py-NHCO-PTZ)PF₆] and a model 1b, [(4,4’-di-COOEt-bpy)Re(CO)₃(py-PTZ)PF₆] (bpy is 2, 2’-bipyridine, py-NHCO-PTZ is phenothiazine-(10-carbonyl amide) pyridine and py-PTZ is 10-(4-picolyl) phenothiazine) were synthesized. Their photo-induced electron transfer (ET) reaction with electron acceptor methyl viologen (MV²⁺) in acetonitrile was studied by nanosecond laser flash photolysis at room temperature. Photoexcitation of 1 in the presence of MV²⁺ led to ET from the Re moiety to MV²⁺ generating Re(II) and methyl viologen radical (MV^·+). Then Re(II) was reduced either by the charge recombination with MV^·+ or by intramolecular ET from the attached PTZ, regenerating the photosensitizer Re(I) and forming the PTZ radical at 510 nm. In the case of 1b, the absorption for PTZ radical can be observed distinctly accompanied intermolecular ET, whereas not much difference at 510 nm can be detected for 1a on the time scale of the experiments. This demonstrates that the linking bridge plays a key role on the intramolecular ET in complex 1.     

MECHANISM OF THE PHOTOSENSITIZED REDOX REACTIONS OF ACRIDINE ORANGE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS-A SYSTEM OF INTEREST IN THE PHOTOCHEMICAL STORAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY†

-We have carried out a very detailed study, using fluorescence and optical flash photolysis techniques, of the photoreduction of methyl viologen (MV²⁺) by the electron donor ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in aqueous solution sensitized by the dye acridine orange (AOH⁺). A complete mechanism has been proposed which accounts for virtually all of the known observations on this reaction. This reaction is novel in that both the triplet and the singlet state of AOH⁺ appear to be active photochemically. We have shown that mechanisms previously proposed for this reaction are probably incorrect due to an artifact. At pH 7 the fluorescence quantum yield φ_s of AOH⁺ is 0.26 ± 0.02 and the fluorescence lifetime is 1.8 ± 0.2 ns. φ_s is pH dependent and reaches a maximum of 0.56 at pH 4. The fluorescence of AOH⁺ is quenched by MV²⁺ at concentrations above 1 mM and the quenching obeys Stern-Volmer kinetics with a quenching rate constant of (1.0 ± 0.1) × 10¹⁰M^?1 s^?1. The quenching of the AOH⁺ excited singlet state by MV²⁺ almost certainly returns the AOH⁺ to its ground state with no photochemistry occurring. EDTA also quenches the fluorescence of AOH· with Stern-Volmer kinetics but with a smaller rate constant (6.4 ± 0.5) × 10⁸M^?1s^?1 at pH 7. In this case the quenching is reactive resulting in the formation of semireduced AOH. In the presence of MV²⁺, flash irradiation of AOH⁺ does result in the reversible formation of the semireduced MV? which absorbs at 603 nm. We attribute this to a photochemical reaction of the triplet state of AOH⁺ with MV²⁺. The initial quantum yield for formation of MV? (φ_MV:)₀ was found to be constant at 0.10 ± 0.05 for [MV²⁺] from 5 × 10^?5 to 1.0 × 10^?3 with [AOH⁺] = 8 × 10^?6M. Previous workers had found that (φ_MV:)₀ appears to decrease with decreasing [AOH⁺]; however, on careful investigation, we found this was most probably due to quenching of the triplet state of AOH⁺ by trace amounts of oxygen. When EDTA is added to a mixture of AOH ⁺ and MV²⁺ at pH 7, the photochemical formation of MV? becomes irreversible as the [EDTA] is increased. The quantum yield for the irreversible formation of MV? exceeds 0.10 becoming as large as 0.16 for [EDTA] = 0.014M. This fact requires that an alternative photochemical process must be operative and we present evidence that this is a reaction of EDTA with the excited singlet state of AOH⁺ to produce the semi-reduced AOH- which then reacts with MV²⁺ to produce MV?. The full kinetic scheme was tested by computer simulation and found to be totally consistent. This also enabled the processing of a full set of rate constants. When colloidal PtO₂ was added to the optimal mixture [EDTA] = 3.4 × 10^?2M; [MV²⁺] = 5 × 10^?4M; [AOH⁺] = 4 × 10^?5M; pH6 H₂ gas was produced at a rate of 0.2μmol H₂h^?1. Thus, acridine orange should serve as an effective sensitizer in reactions designed to use solar energy to photolyze water.     

The substituent effect on the single and double hydrogen atom transfer reactions in para-substituted benzoic acid isobutyl esters

The substituent effect on the single and double hydrogen atom transfer reactions in para-substituted benzoic acid isobutyl esters has been investigated by electron impact mass spectrometry. Electron-donating substituents favour formation of the [M? C₄H₈]⁺˙ ion generated by single hydrogen atom transfer reaction (McLafferty rearrangement), whereas electron-withdrawing substituents favour formation of the [M? C₄H₇]⁺ ion generated by double hydrogen atom transfer reaction. In the case of the latter compounds, the m/z56 ([C₄H₈]⁺˙) ion, which is generated by single hydrogen atom transfer reaction with charge migration, is very intense, while in the former compounds, the m/z56 ion is very weak. These observations can be reasonably explained on thermochemical grounds based on the sum of the standard heats of formation of the fragments.     

A charge‐transfer salt composed of methyl viologen and hexacyanidoferrate(II)

The methyl viologen dication, used under the name Paraquat as an agricultural reagent, is a well‐known electron‐acceptor species that can participate in charge‐transfer (CT) interactions. The determination of the crystal structure of this species is important for accessing the CT interaction and CT‐based properties. The title hydrated salt, bis(1,1′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐1,1′‐diium) hexacyanidoferrate(II) octahydrate, (C₁₂H₁₄N₂)₂[Fe(CN)₆]·8H₂O or (MV)₂[Fe(CN)₆]·8H₂O [MV²⁺ is the 1,1′‐dimethyl‐4,4′‐bipyridine‐1,1′‐diium (methyl viologen) dication], crystallizes in the space group P 2₁/c with one MV²⁺ cation, half of an [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anion and four water molecules in the asymmetric unit. The Fe^II atom of the [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anion lies on an inversion centre and has an octahedral coordination sphere defined by six cyanide ligands. The MV²⁺ cation is located on a general position and adopts a noncoplanar structure, with a dihedral angle of 40.32 (7)° between the planes of the pyridine rings. In the crystal, layers of electron‐donor [Fe(CN)₆]⁴⁻ anions and layers of electron‐acceptor MV²⁺ cations are formed and are stacked in an alternating manner parallel to the direction of the −2a + c axis, resulting in an alternate layered structure.     

Cationic titanium alkyls as alkene polymerisation catalysts: Solvent and anion dependence

The ethylene polymerisation activity of [(Ind)₂TiMe]BPh₄ decreases with decreasing solvent polarity but is enhanced if BPh₄⁻ is replaced by the less basic anion [B{C₆H₃(CF₃)₂}₄]⁻. The reaction of [PhNHMe₂]BPh₄ with Cp*₂TiMe₂ gives [Cp*₂TiMe]BPh₄, the first isolable 14-electron titanium alkyl cation complex (Ind = indenyl, Cp* = C₅Me₅).     

Kinetics and mechanism of photolysis of the iron(III) complex with tartaric acid

The formation of MV^•+ radical cations was observed upon the laser flash photolysis of the iron(III) tartrate complex [Fe^IIITart]⁺ (1) in the presence of methyl viologen (MV²⁺). The rate constants of the reactions involving MV^•+ were measured. The intramolecular electron trans-fer to form Fe^II and escape of the organic radical to the solvent bulk upon the photolysis of 1 were proposed. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 5, pp. 866–869, May, 2007.     

Tris(2,2′‐bipyridine)ruthenium Derivatives with Multiple Viologen Acceptors: Quadratic Dependence of Photocatalytic H2 Evolution Rate on the Local Concentration of the Acceptor Site

Three Ru(bpy)₃²⁺ derivatives tethered to multiple viologen acceptors, [Ru(bpy)₂(4,4′‐MV2)]⁶⁺, [Ru(bpy)₂(4,4′‐MV4)]¹⁰⁺, and [Ru(bpy)(4,4′‐MV4)₂]¹⁸⁺ [bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, 4,4′‐MV2=4‐ethoxycarbonyl‐4′‐(N‐G₁‐carbamoyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine, and 4,4′‐MV4=4,4′‐bis(N‐G₁‐carbamoyl)‐2,2′‐bipyridine, where G₁=Asp(NHG₂)‐NHG₂ and G₂=‐(CH₂)₂‐N⁺C₅H₄‐C₅H₄N⁺‐CH₃] were prepared as “photo‐charge separators (PCSs)”. Photoirradiation of these complexes in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor (EDTA) results in storage of electrons per PCS values of 1.3, 2.7, and 4.6, respectively. Their applications in the photochemical H₂ evolution from water in the presence of a colloidal Pt H₂‐evolving catalyst were investigated, and are discussed along with those reported for [Ru(bpy)₂(5,5′‐MV4)]¹⁰⁺, [Ru(4,4′‐MV4)₃]²⁶⁺, and [Ru(5,5′‐MV4)₃]²⁶⁺ (Inorg. Chem. Front. 2016 , 3, 671–680). The PCSs with high dimerization constants (K_d=10⁵–10⁶ m ^?1) are superior in driving H₂ evolution at pH 5.0, whereas those with lower K_d values (10³–10⁴ m ^?1) are superior at pH 7.0, where K_d=[(MV⁺)₂]/[MV^{+ .} ]². The (MV⁺)₂ site can drive H₂ evolution only at pH 5.0 as a result of its 0.15 eV lower driving force for H₂ evolution relative to MV^{+ .} , whereas the PCSs with lower K_d values exhibit higher performance at pH 7.0 owing to the higher population of free MV^{+ .} . Importantly, the rate of electron charging over the PCSs is linear to the apparent H₂ evolution rate, and shows an intriguing quadratic dependence on the number of MV²⁺ units per PCS.     

Syntheses and structural characterization of New Tl + and K + complexes of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (HDNB), [Tl(μ-DNB)] n and [K(μ-DNB)(μ-HDNB)] n

Two new Tl⁺ and K⁺ complexes of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (HDNB), [Tl(μ-DNB)] _n and [K(μ-DNB)(μ-HDNB)] _n have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. Determination of the structure of the [K(μ-DNB)(μ-HDNB)] _n and [Tl(μ-DNB)] _n by X-ray crystallography shows that there are nine coordinate K atoms (KO₉) and eight coordinate Tl atoms (TlO₈). The [Tl(μ-DNB)] _n and [K(μ-DNB)(μ-HDNB)] _n complexes are 2D and 3D coordination polymers, respectively.     

Fast atom bombardment mass spectra of telluronium salts

The fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectra of telluronium salts were studied. The spectra exhibit the intact cation (C⁺) and cluster ions ([M + C]⁺). The principal fragment ions in the FAB mass spectra of telluronium salts are [RTe]⁺, [R₂Te]⁺˙, [R₂Te − H]⁺, [RTeR′]⁺˙, and [RTeR′ + H]⁺. When the anion was [BPh₄]⁻, interesting cluster ions such as [M + C − BPh₃]⁺ appeared.     

Photoelectrochemical and characterization of intercalation compound of KTiNbO5 with methylviologen

Methylviologen (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′dipyridinium ion, MV²⁺) has been intercalated into the interlayer space of layered potassium titanoniobate (KTiNbO₅) by a method involving the displacement of guest molecules using a n-hexylammonium titanoniobate (HeNH₃⁺-TiNbO₅) intercalation compound. The methylviologen titanoniobate (MV²⁺-TiNbO₅) intercalation compound was characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, IR and elemental analysis. The photochemical and electrochemical behaviors of the MV²⁺-TiNbO₅ hybrid thin film were investigated. The photo excitation of oxygen-present MV²⁺-TiNbO₅ thin film with UV light indicated the electron transfer from the titanoniobate layer to MV²⁺ to form MV⁺ radical cation. The cyclic voltammogram of the MV²⁺-TiNbO₅ hybrid thin film exhibited two consecutive electron-transfer steps.     

DIRECT OBSERVATION OF ELECTRON TRANSFER ACROSS A LIPID BILAYER: PULSED LASER PHOTOLYSIS OF AN ASYMMETRIC VESICLE SYSTEM CONTAINING CHLOROPHYLL,METHYL VIOLOGEN AND EDTA*

Abstract— Suspensions of vesicles composed of chlorophyll a (Chi) and phospholipid that were asymmetric with respect to aqueous solutions of methyl viologen (MV₂₊), an electron acceptor, and EDTA, an electron donor, were investigated using both flash and steady-state photolysis techniques. It was shown that Chl-photosensitized electron transfer occurred across the walls of the vesicles from EDTA to MV₂₊. Flash photolysis indicated that MV₂₊ dissolved in the interior aqueous compartments of the vesicles oxidized only those triplet excited state Chi molecules that were dissolved in the inner monolayers of the vesicle walls. The resultant radical products, Chi₊ and MV₊, recombined with a halftime of the order of 10_-4s. EDTA, added externally to the vesicles, competed effectively with MV₊ as a reducing agent for Chl₊. This places a lower limit of 10₄ s_-1 on the rate constant for transmembrane electron transfer. Compartmentalization by the vesicle wall of the competing pathways for the reduction of Chi₊ resulted in a nonlinear dependence of the rate constant of Chl₊ decay on EDTA concentration. The magnitude of the rate constant of electron transfer through the membrane and the way that the kinetics of Chl₊ decay depended on the concentration of Chi in the membrane strongly suggest that the electron transfer occurred by electron exchange between Chi and Chl₊.     

Dynamic 15N NMR studies of iron phosphine complexes containing coordinated dinitrogen

The ¹⁵N‐labelled iron dinitrogen complexes trans‐[FeH(N₂)(PP)₂]⁺[BPh₄]^? (PP = dppe, depe, dmpe) and cis‐[FeH(N₂)(PP₃)]⁺[BPh₄]^? were prepared in situ by exchange of unlabelled coordinated dinitrogen with ¹⁵N₂. ¹⁵N NMR chemical shifts and coupling constants are reported. The ¹⁵N spectra exhibit separate signals for the metal‐bound and terminal nitrogen atoms of the coordinated N₂. The ¹⁵N resonances display ¹⁵N, ¹⁵N coupling as well as ³¹P, ¹⁵N coupling and long‐range ¹⁵N, ¹H coupling when there is a metal‐bound hydrido ligand. Exchange between free and coordinated dinitrogen was monitored by magnetization transfer between ¹⁵N‐labelled sites using an inversion–transfer–recovery experiment. Exchange between the metal‐bound and terminal nitrogen atoms of coordinated N₂ was also monitored by magnetization transfer and this could proceed by N₂ dissociation or by an intramolecular process. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Single Electron Transfer to Diazomethane–Borane Adducts Prompts C−H Bond Activations

While (Ph₂CN₂)B(C₆F₅)₃ is unstable, single electron transfer from Cp*₂Co affords the isolation of stable products [Cp*₂Co][Ph₂CNNHB(C₆F₅)₃] 1 and [Cp*Co(C₅Me₄CH₂B(C₆F₅)₃)] 2 . The analogous combination of Ph₂CN₂ and BPh₃ showed no evidence of adduct formation and yet single electron transfer from Cp*₂Cr affords the species [Cp*₂Cr][PhC(C₆H₄)NNBPh₃] 3 and [Cp*₂Cr][Ph₂CNNHBPh₃] 4 . Computations showed both reactions proceed via transient radical anions of the diphenyldiazomethane–borane adducts to effect C?H bond activations.     

Adduct ion formation by metal complexes under methane negative chemical ionization conditions

Negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry is used as a probe to examine reactions between hydrocarbon radicals and metal complexes in the gas phase. The methane negative chemical ionization mass spectra of 27 complexes of cobalt(II ), nickel(II ) and copper(II ) in the presence of O₄, O₂N₂ and N₄ donor atom sets are characterized by two dominant series of adduct ions of the form [M + C_nH_2n]^? and [M + C_nH_2n+1]^? at m/z values above the molecular ion, [M]^?. Insertion of the CH radical into the ligand followed by radical/radical recombination and electron capture is proposed as the major mechanism leading to the formation of [M + C_nH_2n]^? adduct ions. A second pathway involves ligand substitution by C_nH_2n+1 radicals concomitant with H elimination and electron capture. Oxidative addition at the metal followed by ionization is suggested as the principal pathway for the formation of [M + C_nH_2n+1]^? adduct ions.     

Electrospray Mass Spectrometry of Aqueous Solutions of Isopolyoxotungstates

Electrospray mass spectrometry (ESMS) has been conducted on aqueous solutions of isopolyoxotungstate systems. There is direct evidence that the desorption process in the ESMS technique has resulted in significant chemical effects, resulting in the detection of many new anions and cations. For the ammonium polyoxotungstate system, negative-ion ESMS yields ions of the form [HW _m O_3m+1]^–, [W _m O_3m+1]^2–, and [HW _m O_3m+2]^3– (with the latter being better formulated as [H₂W_2m O_6m+4]^6–). For the alkali metal polyoxotungstate systems ions of the form [W _m O_3m+1A]^– and [W _m O_4m A_2m–2]^2– (where A=Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺) were observed. For positive-ion ESMS two series were observed, namely, the [W _m O_4m A_2m+1]⁺ and [W _m O_4m A_2m+2]²⁺ ions. In the ammonium polyoxotungstate system, aggregates of both the [HW _m O_3m+1]^– and the [W _m O_3m+1]^2– series can be classified as open-chained structures of tetrahedra that are corner shared, whereas the more highly charged anions [H₂W_2m O_6m+4]^6– are consistent with closed-packed structures which are based on the structure of paratungstate-B [H₂W₁₂O₄₂]^10–. For the alkali metal tungstate systems, the ESMS spectra are consistent with open-chained structures of octahedral units that are edge shared, with a terminating tetrahedral unit. Linear correlations suggest that the assembly of these aggregates occurs via an additive polymerization mechanism for which the additive moieties (WO₃, WO²⁺ ₂, and W₂O₈A₄) in aqueous solution can be identified.     

Mechanism of BPh3-Catalyzed N-Methylation of Amines with CO2 and Phenylsilane: Cooperative Activation of Hydrosilane

BPh₃ catalyzes the N-methylation of secondary amines and the C-methylenation (methylene-bridge formation between aromatic rings) of N,N-dimethylanilines or 1-methylindoles in the presence of CO₂ and PhSiH₃; these reactions proceed at 30–40 °C under solvent-free conditions. In contrast, B(C₆F₅)₃ shows little or no activity. ¹¹B NMR spectra suggested the generation of [HBPh₃]⁻. The detailed mechanism of the BPh₃-catalyzed N-methylation of N-methylaniline ( 1 ) with CO₂ and PhSiH₃ was studied by using DFT calculations. BPh₃ promotes the conversion of two substrates (N-methylaniline and CO₂) into a zwitterionic carbamate to give three-component species [Ph(Me)(H)N⁺CO₂⁻⋅⋅⋅BPh₃]. The carbamate and BPh₃ act as the nucleophile and Lewis acid, respectively, for the activation of PhSiH₃ to generate [HBPh₃]⁻, which is used to produce key CO₂-derived species, such as silyl formate and bis(silyl)acetal, essential for the N-methylation of 1 . DFT calculations also suggested other mechanisms involving water for the generation of [HBPh₃]⁻ species.