Understanding the Diels-Alder reactivity of 1,2-azaborine analogues

The Diels-Alder reactivity of 1,2-heteroborines (H₄C₄B(H)X, X?=?NH, PH, AsH; O, S, Se) has been computationally explored by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations. The influence of the HB?=?X fragment on the reactivity of the system has been quantitatively analyzed in detail by means of the so-called Activation Strain Model (ASM) of reactivity. It is found that the interaction between these species and the dienophile is significantly stronger than that computed for their all-carbon isoelectronic counterpart, benzene. In addition, the strain energy plays a key role in the observed reactivity trends. The role of the aromaticity strength of these heteroarenes on the reactivity is also assessed.