B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed E-Selective Isomerization of Alkenes

Herein, we report the B(C₆F₅)₃-catalyzed E-selective isomerization of alkenes. The transition-metal-free method is applicable across a diverse array of readily accessible substrates, giving access to a broad range of synthetically useful products containing versatile stereodefined internal alkenes. The reaction mechanism was investigated by using synthetic and computational methods.     

Boron Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Hydroboration of Alkenes with Pinacolborane: BArF3 Does What B(C6F5)3 Cannot Do!

The transition‐metal‐free hydroboration of various alkenes with pinacolborane (HBpin) initiated by tris[3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borane (BAr^F₃) is reported. The choice of the boron Lewis acid is crucial as the more prominent boron Lewis acid tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (B(C₆F₅)₃) is reluctant to react. Unlike B(C₆F₅)₃, BAr^F₃ is found to engage in substituent redistribution with HBpin, resulting in the formation of Ar^FBpin and the electron‐deficient diboranes [H₂BAr^F]₂ and [(Ar^F)(H)B(μ‐H)₂BAr^F₂]. These in situ‐generated hydroboranes undergo regioselective hydroboration of styrene derivatives as well as aliphatic alkenes with cis diastereoselectivity. Another ligand metathesis of these adducts with HBpin subsequently affords the corresponding HBpin‐derived anti‐Markovnikov adducts. The reactive hydroboranes are regenerated in this step, thereby closing the catalytic cycle.     

Oligomerization of Electron‐Deficient Vinyl Monomers Through an Ate‐Complex Mechanism: A New Role for B(C6F5)3 Lewis Acid

The Lewis acid B(C₆F₅)₃ in combination with hydrosilanes exhibits remarkable activity in the oligomerization of sulfone‐ and phosphonate‐based monomers. This process opens new routes to high‐tech silicone‐based materials, i.e., thermoplastic elastomers and heat‐resistant polysiloxanes.

     

Syntheses and Characterization of (C2F5)3BCO and (C3F7)3BCO

The new tris(perfluoroalkyl)borane carbonyls, (C₂F₅)₃BCO and (C₃F₇)₃BCO, were prepared by means of a novel synthetic route using commercially available precursors by reacting K[(C₂F₅)₃BCOOH] and K[(C₃F₇)₃BCOOH] with concentrated sulfuric acid in the last step. The carboxylic acids, K[(C₂F₅)₃BCOOH] and K[(C₃F₇)₃BCOOH], were prepared by oxidative cleavage of the C?C triple bonds in Cs[(C₂F₅)₃BC?CPh] and Cs[(C₃F₇)₃BC?CPh] in a two‐step process to yield K[(C₂F₅)₃BCO? COPh] and K[(C₃F₇)₃BCO? COPh] as isolable intermediates. Crystal structures were obtained of K[(C₂F₅)₃BCO? COPh], K[(C₂F₅)₃BCOOH] ? H₂O, (C₂F₅)₃BCO, K[(C₃F₇)₃BCOOH] ? 2 H₂O, and (C₃F₇)₃BCO. In the crystal structures of (C₂F₅)₃BCO and (C₃F₇)₃BCO the C?O bond lengths are 1.109(2) and 1.103(5) Å, respectively, which are among the shortest observed to date. Tris(pentafluoroethyl)borane carbonyl and (C₃F₇)₃BCO slowly decompose at room temperature to yield CO, difluoroperfluoroalkylboranes and perfluoroalkenes. The decomposition of (C₂F₅)₃BCO was found to follow a first‐order rate law with E_a=107 kJ mol^?1.     

B(C6F5)3: A Lewis Acid that Brings the Light to the Solid State

The straightforward coordination of the Lewis acid B(C₆F₅)₃ to classical, non‐emitting aldehydes results in solid‐state photoluminescence. Variation of the electronic properties of the carbonyl moieties lead to the modulation of the solid‐state emission colors, covering the entire visible spectrum with quantum yields up to 0.64. Steady‐state spectroscopy in combination with X‐ray diffraction analysis and DFT calculations confirm that intermolecular interactions between the Lewis adducts are responsible for the observed luminescence. Alteration of the latter interactions induces, moreover, remarkable solid‐state phenomena such as piezochromism. The versatility and simplicity of our approach facilitate the future development of solid‐state emitting materials.     

Diphospha-Ureas from the Phosphaketene Ph3GePCO

The phosphaketene Ph₃GePCO is shown to react with the phosphide KP(tBu)₂ to generate the anion [Ph₃GePC(O)P(tBu)₂]⁻ 1 . This species reacts with CH₃I or ClGePh₃ to give the dissymmetric diphospha-ureas (tBu)₂PC(O)P(GePh₃)(CH₃) 2 and (Ph₃Ge)₂PC(O)P(tBu)₂ 3 respectively. Sequential treatment of 2 with a base and CH₃I affords a route to (tBu)₂PC(O)P(CH₃)₂ 5 . These species are products of the first modular diphospha-urea synthesis. The subsequent thermal and photochemical reactivity of these species was also probed and described.     

Metal‐Free Dehydrogenation of Amine‐Boranes by Tunable N‐Heterocyclic Iminoboranes

We report the synthesis of structurally tunable boron complexes supported by N‐heterocyclic imine ligands IPr=N?BR₂ (IPr=[(HCNDipp)₂C], Dipp=2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃, R=Cl and/or Ph) that have the ability to abstract dihydrogen from amine‐boranes, and instigate their dehydrocoupling. In one instance, mild heating of the hydrogen addition product IPr=NH?B(Ph)HCl releases H₂ to regenerate the starting N‐heterocyclic iminoborane; accordingly IPr=N?B(Ph)Cl can be used as a metal‐free catalyst to promote the dehydrocoupling of MeNH₂ ? BH₃ to yield N‐methylaminoborane oligomers [MeNH‐BH₂]_x.     

Solution conformation and dynamics of the ion pairs originating from the reaction of B(C6F5)3 with bisindenyl dimethyl zirconium complexes

The two ion pairs [(4,7-Me(2)indenyl)(2)ZrMe](+)[MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (1 b) and [(indenyl)(2)ZrMe](+) [MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) (2 b) have been generated in situ by reaction of stoichiometric B(C(6)F(5))(3) with the corresponding dimethyl zirconocenes. It has been shown that molecular mechanics computations, guided by experimental (1)H/(1)H NOE correlations, can provide information on the conformers present in solution. The dynamics of the ion pairs has also been investigated, showing the occurrence of both the processes previously characterized for this class of compounds, namely the B(C(6)F(5))(3) migration between the two methyl groups and dissociation-recombination of the whole [MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) anion, the latter process being much faster than the first one (about three order of magnitude). Moreover, it has been shown that in certain conditions intermolecular processes can occur, which mimic the above-mentioned dissociative exchanges. In particular, the presence of species containing loosely bound [MeB(C(6)F(5))(3)](-) anion fastens the exchange of this anion, while the presence of free B(C(6)F(5))(3) accelerates its exchange between the two methyl sites.     

Controlled cationic polymerization of cyclopentadiene with B(C6F5)3 as a coinitiator in the presence of water

The controlled cationic polymerization of cyclopentadiene (CPD) at 20 °C using 1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)ethanol (1)/B(C₆F₅)₃ initiating system in the presence of fairly large amount of water is reported. The number–average molecular weights of the obtained polymers increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion in agreement with calculated values and were inversely proportional to initiator concentration, while the molecular weight distribution slightly broadened during the polymerization (M_w/M_n ～ 1.15–1.60). ¹H NMR analyses confirmed that the polymerization proceeds via reversible activation of the C? OH bond derived from the initiator to generate the growing cationic species, although some loss of hydroxyl functionality happened in the course of the polymerization. It was also shown that the enchainment in cationic polymerization of CPD was affected by the nature of the solvent(s): for instance, polymers with high regioselectivity ([1,4] up to 70%) were obtained in acetonitrile, whereas lower values (around 60%) were found in CH₂Cl₂/CH₃CN mixtures. Aqueous suspension polymerization of CPD using the same initiating system was successfully performed and allowed to synthesize primarily hydroxyl‐terminated oligomers (F_n = 0.8–0.9) with M_n ≤ 1000 g mol^?1 and broad MWD (M_w/M_n ～ 2.2). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4734–4747, 2008     

Adducts of (C6F5)3B with Selected Nitrogen

The Lewis acid (C₆F₅)₃B was reacted with ICN, NH₂CN, C₃N₃X₃ (X = H, Cl, F). The resulting Lewis acid base adducts ( 1—5 ) were fully characterized by analytic and spectroscopic methods. Additionally, the structures of the adducts 1—4 were determined by single crystal X‐ray analyses. It has been qualitatively shown, that a high field shift of the ¹¹B as well as the ¹⁹F NMR resonances of the o‐F atoms of the C₆F₅‐substituents suggests a longer B—N distance.     

B(C6F5)3-catalyzed synthesis of benzylic azides

B(C₆F₅)₃ was found to catalyze the reaction between trimethylsilyl azide and benzylic acetates. Secondary and tertiary benzylic acetates were competent substrates in this reaction providing the azide products in moderate to high yields. Mechanistic experiments are consistent with the possible formation of a Lewis acid-base pair between the B(C₆F₅)₃ and trimethylsilyl azide.     

B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Cascade Reduction of Pyridines

B(C₆F₅)₃ has been found to be an effective catalyst for reduction of pyridines and other electron-deficient N-heteroarenes with hydrosilanes (or hydroboranes) and amines as the reducing reagents. The success of this development hinges upon the realization of a cascade process of dearomative hydrosilylation (or hydroboration) and transfer hydrogenation. The broad functional-group tolerance (e.g. ketone, ester, unactivated olefins, nitro, nitrile, heterocycles, etc.) implies high practical utility.     

Synthesis and reactivity of N-heterocycle-B(C6F5)3 complexes. 4. Competition between pyridine- and pyrrole-type substrates toward B(C6F5)3: structure and dynamics of 7-B(C6F5)3-7-azaindole and [7-Azaindolium]+[HOB(C6F5)3]-

Reaction between 7-azaindole and B(C6F5)3 quantitatively yields 7-(C6F5)3B-7-azaindole (4), in which B(C6F5)3 coordinates to the pyridine nitrogen of 7-azaindole, leaving the pyrrole ring unreacted even in the presence of a second equivalent of B(C6F5)3. Reaction of 7-azaindole with H2O-B(C6F5)3 initially produces [7-azaindolium]+[HOB(C6F5)3]- (5) which slowly converts to 4 releasing a H2O molecule. Pyridine removes the borane from the known complexes (C6F5)3B-pyrrole (1) and (C6F5)3B-indole (2), with formation of free pyrrole or indole, giving the more stable adduct (C6F5)3B-pyridine (3). The competition between pyridine and 7-azaindole for the coordination with B(C6F5)3 again yields 3. The molecular structures of compounds 4 and 5 have been determined both in the solid state and in solution and compared to the structures of other (C6F5)3B-N-heterocycle complexes. Two dynamic processes have been found in compound 4. Their activation parameters (DeltaH = 66 (3) kJ/mol, DeltaS = -18 (10) J/mol K and DeltaH = 76 (5) kJ/mol, DeltaS = -5 (18) J/mol K) are comparable with those of other (C6F5)3B-based adducts. The nature of the intramolecular interactions that result in such energetic barriers is discussed.     

Multiple‐pathways of carbon dioxide binding by a Lewis acid [B(C6F5)3] and a lewis base [P(tBu)3]: The energy landscape perspective

Using the reaction‐relevant two‐dimensional potential energy surface, an accurate reaction‐pathway mapping and ab inito molecular dynamics, it is shown that CO₂ capture by P(tBu)₃ and B(C₆F₅)₃ species has many nearly degenerate reaction‐routes to take. The explanation of that is in the topography of the transition state (saddle) area. An ensemble of asynchronous reaction‐routes of CO₂ binding is described in fine detail. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.