Nucleophilic substitution of nitro groups by [F]fluoride in methoxy-substituted ortho-nitrobenzaldehydes—A systematic study

As model reactions for the introduction of [¹⁸F]fluorine into aromatic amino acids, the replacement of NO₂ by [¹⁸F]fluoride ion in mono- to tetra-methoxy-substituted ortho-nitrobenzaldehydes was systematically investigated. Unexpectedly, the highly methoxylated precursors 2,3,4-trimethoxy-6-nitrobenzaldehyde and 2,3,4,5-tetramethoxy-6-nitrobenzaldehyde showed high maximum radiochemical yields (82% and 48% respectively). When the electrophilicity of the leaving group substituted carbon atom is expressed by its ¹³C NMR chemical shift a good correlation with the reaction rate at the beginning of the reaction (first min) was found (R² = 0.89), whereas the maximum radiochemical yields correlated much poorer with this electrophilicity parameter. This may be caused by side reactions becoming influencial in the further reaction course. As possible side reactions the demethylation of methoxy groups and intramolecular redox reactions could be detected by HPLC/MS.     

Platinum(II) complex-catalyzed enantioselective aldol reaction with ketene silyl acetals in DMF at room temperature

[{(R)-binap}Pt(μ-OH)]₂2X is a weak Lewis acid, which can catalyze the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with ketene silyl acetals in DMF at room temperature. The platinum(II) complex-catalyzed the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with 1-methoxy-2-methyl-(1-trimethylsilyloxy)propene gave the corresponding aldols in high yields with enantioselectivity up to 92%. With 5 mol % loading of the complexes, the enantioselective aldol reaction of aldehydes with 1-benzyloxy-1-(trimethylsilyloxy)propene smoothly proceeded in DMF containing 10% HMPA as to predominantly give anti-propionates with enantioselectivity up to 89%, irrespective of the silyl nucleophile geometry.     

Pd(OAc)2-catalyzed C-H activation of indoles: a facile synthesis of 3-cyanoindoles

Indoles undergo smooth cyanation with CuCN in the presence of 20 mol % Pd(OAc)₂ and 40 mol % CuBr₂ in DMF to produce a wide range of the corresponding 3-cyanoindoles in good yields with high regioselectivity.     

The fractionation and determination procedures for the speciation of Pb and Po in soil samples

A method for speciation and determination of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po in soil samples was developed. The speciation was carried out by fractionating the soil samples into five fractions which are water soluble or exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter and bound to residue. After mineralisation, 10% solution of each fraction was used to spontaneously deposit polonium on a silver disk at 85-90 °C and pH 1.5, and ²¹⁰Po was measured by α-spectrometry; the remain solution was used to separate lead by anion-exchange resin and purified by precipitation as PbS and PbSO₄, and ²¹⁰Pb was determined by a low background β-counter. The IAEA-327 reference material (soil) was studied for ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po speciation. The results show that: (1) the average yields are 88.7 ± 6.4% for ²¹⁰Pb and 93.8 ± 8.2% for ²¹⁰Po; (2) if compared to the total ²¹⁰Pb activity in the sample, ²¹⁰Pb fractions are 0.95% in exchangeable form, 10.6% bound to carbonates, 14.3% bound to Fe-Mn oxides, 7.0% bound to organic matter and 67.2% bound to residue or acid soluble, and the corresponding values for ²¹⁰Po are 0.17%, 0.97%, 21.0%, 0.47% and 77.4%, respectively; and (3) the obtained ²¹⁰Pb concentration is in good agreement with the recommended value given by the IAEA.     

Synthesis,spectroscopic and structural studies of 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl phosphorodiamidate complexes with tin(IV) chloride

The two octahedral complexes SnCl₄ · 2(O)P(NR₂)₂OCH₂CF₃ (R = Me (1) or Et (2)) have been prepared from SnCl₄ and the ligands (R₂N)₂P(O)OCH₂CF₃ in chloroform solution. Both adducts have been characterised by (³¹P and ¹¹⁹Sn) NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The NMR data show that the complexes exist as mixtures of cis and trans isomers in solution with the latter isomer being the predominant species. The structure of 1 has been determined by X-ray crystallography. Accordingly, the structure is centrosymmetric and the two ligands are bound trans to each other in the octahedral tin complex. DFT/B3LYP calculations show that trans configuration does indeed lead to the lowest energy species. Comparison of the structural, NMR and theoretical data of both complexes with those related to SnCl₄ · 2L (L = (Me₂N)₃P(O) and (Me₂N)₂P(O)F) further supports the important effects of the nature of the substituents in the ligand on the stereochemistry of the complex formed.     

Structural investigations on diorgano- and triorganotin(IV) derivatives of [meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine] metal chlorides

Several new complexes of organotin(IV) moieties with MCl_n[meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine], (R₂Sn)₂MCl_n[meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)-porphinate]s and (R₃Sn)₄MCl_n [meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphinate]s, [M = Fe(III), Mn(III): n = 1, R = Me, n-Bu; Ph; M = Sn(IV): n = 2, R = Me, n-Bu] have been synthesized and their solid state configuration investigated by infrared (IR) and Mössbauer spectroscopy, and by ¹H and ¹³C NMR in D₂O.The electron density on the metal ion coordinated inside the porphyrin ring is not influenced by the organotin(IV) moieties bonded to the oxygen atoms of the side chain sulfonatophenyl groups, as it has been inferred on the basis of Mössbauer spectroscopy and, in particular, from the invariance of the isomer shift of the Fe(III) and Sn(IV) atoms coordinated into the porphyrin square plane of the newly synthesized complexes, with respect to the same atoms in the free ligand.As far as the coordination polyhedra around the peripheral tin atoms are concerned, infrared spectra and experimental Mössbauer data would suggest octahedral and trigonal bipyramidal environments around tin, in polymeric configurations obtained, respectively, in the diorganotin derivatives through chelating or bridging sulfonate groups coordinating in the square plane, and in triorganotin(IV) complexes through bridging sulfonate oxygen atoms in axial positions.The structures of the (Me₃Sn)₄Sn(IV)Cl₂[meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphinate] and of the two model systems, Me₃Sn(PS)(HPS) and Me₂Sn(PS)₂ [HPS = phenylsulfonic acid], have been studied by a two layer ONIOM method, using the hybrid DFT B3LYP functional for the higher layer, including the significant tin environment. This approach allowed us to support the structural hypotheses inferred by the IR and Mössbauer spectroscopy analysis and to obtain detailed geometrical information of the tin environment in the compounds investigated.¹H and ¹³C NMR data suggested retention of the geometry around the tin(IV) atom in D₂O solution.     

Change in mechanistic pathway of hydroboration: A detailed kinetic study of H2BBr·SMe2 and HBBr2·SMe2

Hydroboration reactions of 1-octene and 1-hexyne with H₂BBr·SMe₂ in CH₂Cl₂ were studied as a function of concentration and temperature, using ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy. The reactions exhibited saturation kinetics. The rate of dissociation of dimethyl sulfide from boron at 25 °C was found to be (7.36 ± 0.59 and 7.32 ± 0.90) × 10⁻³ s⁻¹ for 1-octene and 1-hexyne, respectively. The second order rate constants, k₂, for hydroboration worked out to be 7.00 ± 0.81 M s⁻¹ and 7.03 ± 0.70 M s⁻¹, while the overall composite second order rate constants, k K, were (3.30 ± 0.43 and 3.10 ± 0.37) × 10⁻² M s⁻¹, respectively at 25 °C. The entropy and enthalpy values were found to be large and positive for k₁, whilst for k₂ these were large and negative, with small values for enthalpies. This is indicative of a limiting dissociative (D) for the dissociation of Me₂S and associative mechanism (A) for the hydroboration process. The overall activation parameters, ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠, were found to be 98 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹ and +56 ± 7 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ for 1-octene whilst, in the case of 1-hexyne these were found out to be 117 ± 7 kJ mol⁻¹ and +119 ± 24 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. When comparing the kinetic data between H₂BBr·SMe₂ and HBBr₂·SMe₂, the results showed that the rate of dissociation of Me₂S from H₂BBr·SMe₂ is on average 34 times faster than it is in the case of HBBr₂·SMe₂. Similarly, the rate of hydroboration with H₂BBr·SMe₂ was found to be on average 11 times faster than it is with HBBr₂·SMe₂. It is also clear that by replacing a hydrogen substituent with a bromine atom in the case of H₂BBr·SMe₂ the mechanism for the overall process changes from limiting dissociative (D) to interchange associative (I_a).     

Be and P NMR analyses on Be complexation with cyclo-tri-μ-imidotriphosphate anions in aqueous solution

Microscopic information on the complexation of Be²⁺ with cyclo-tri-μ-imidotriphosphate anions in aqueous solution has been gained by both ⁹Be and ³¹P NMR techniques at −2.3 °C. Separate NMR signals corresponding to free and complexed species have been observed in both spectra. Based on an empirical additivity rule, i.e., proportionality observed between the ⁹Be NMR chemical shift values and the number of coordinating atoms of ligand molecules, the ⁹Be NMR spectra have been deconvoluted. By precise equilibrium analyses, the formation of [BeX(H₂O)₃]⁺ and [BeX₂(H₂O)₂]⁰ (X = non-bridging oxygen donor as a coordination atom in the phosphate groups) has been verified, and the formation of complexes coordinating with the nitrogen atoms of the cyclic framework in the ligand molecule has been excluded. Instead, the formation of one-to-one (ML) complexes, one-to-two (ML₂), together with two-to-one (M₂L) complexes (L = cP₃O₆(NH)₃) has been disclosed, the stability constants of which have been evaluated as log K_ML = 3.87 ± 0.03 (mol dm⁻³)⁻¹, log K_ML2 = 2.43 ± 0.03 (mol dm⁻³)⁻² and log K_M2L = 1.30 ± 0.02 (mol dm⁻³)⁻², respectively. ³¹P NMR spectra measured concurrently have verified the formation of the complexes estimated by the ⁹Be NMR measurement. Intrinsic ³¹P NMR chemical shift values of the phosphorus atoms belonging to ligand molecules complexed with Be²⁺, together with the ³¹P-³¹P spin-spin coupling constants have been determined.     

F NMR spectroscopy as useful tool for determining the structure in solution of coordination compounds of MF5 (M = Nb, Ta)

The salts [S(NMe₂)₃][MF₆] (M = Nb, 2a; M = Ta, 2b) and [S(NMe₂)₃][M₂F₁₁] (M = Nb, 2c; M = Ta, 2d) have been prepared by reacting MF₅ (M = Nb, 1a; M = Ta, 1b) with [S(NMe₂)₃][SiMe₃F₂] (TASF reagent) in the appropriate molar ratio. The solid state structure of 2b has been ascertained by X-ray diffraction. The 1:1 molar ratio reactions of 1a with a variety of organic compounds (L) give the neutral adducts NbF₅L [L = Me₂CO, 3a; L = MeCHO, 3b; L = Ph₂CO, 3c; L = tetrahydrofuran (thf), 3d; L = MeOH, 3e; L = EtOH, 3f; L = HOCH₂CH₂OMe, 3g; L = Ph₃PO, 3h; L = NCMe, 3i] in good yields. The complexes MF₅L [M = Nb, L = HCONMe₂, 3j; M = Nb, L = (NMe₂)₂CO, 3k; M = Ta, L = (NMe₂)₂CO, 3l; M = Nb, L = OC(Me)CHCMe₂, 3m] have been detected in solution in admixture with other unidentified products, upon 2:1 molar reaction of 1 with the appropriate reagent L. The ionic complexes [NbF₄(tht)₂][NbF₆], 4a, and [NbF₄(tht)₂][Nb₂F₁₁], 4b, have been obtained by combination of tetrahydrothiophene (tht) and 1a, in 1:1 and 2:3 molar ratios, respectively. The treatment of 1 with a two-fold excess of L leads to the species [MF₄L₄][MF₆] [M = Nb, L = HCONMe₂, 5a; M = Ta, L = HCONMe₂, 5b; M = Nb, L = thf, 5c; M = Ta, L = thf, 5d; M = Nb, L = OEt₂, 5e]. The new complexes have been fully characterised by NMR spectroscopy. Moreover, the revised ¹⁹F NMR features of the known compounds MF₅L [M = Ta, L = Me₂CO, 3n; M = Ta, L = Ph₂CO, 3o; M = Ta, L = MePhCO, 3p; M = Ta, L = thf, 3q; M = Nb, L = CH₃CO₂H, 3r; M = Nb, L = CH₂ClCO₂H, 3s; M = Ta, L = CH₂ClCO₂H, 3t], TaF₄(acac), TaF₄(Me-acac) and [TaF(Me-acac)₃][TaF₆] (Me-acac = methylacetylacetonato anion) are reported.     

Ring opening of epoxides with alcohols using Fe(Cp)2BF4 as catalyst

Fe(Cp)₂BF₄ is an efficient catalyst for the alcoholysis of aromatic, aliphatic, and cyclic epoxides giving excellent yields of the corresponding β-alkoxy alcohols under ambient conditions. The methanolysis of styrene oxide using Fe(Cp)₂BF₄ as a catalyst (5 mol %) gave excellent yield of 2-methoxy-2-phenylethanol with complete regio-selectivity. The ring opening of cyclic epoxides gave 77–97% yields of trans-β-methoxy alcohols, in 0.5–6 h. The use of 1,2-epoxyhexane and 1,2-epoxydodecane as substrates gave both regioisomers in excellent yields. The first order rate of reaction with respect to catalyst was observed for the kinetics of ring opening of 1,2-epoxyhexane with methanol.     

Nucleophilic Radiofluorination Using Tri-tert-Butanol Ammonium as a Bifunctional Organocatalyst: Mechanism and Energetics

We present a quantum chemical analysis of the ¹⁸F-fluorination of 1,3-ditosylpropane, promoted by a quaternary ammonium salt (tri-(tert-butanol)-methylammonium iodide (TBMA-I) with moderate to good radiochemical yields (RCYs), experimentally observed by Shinde et al. We obtained the mechanism of the S_N2 process, focusing on the role of the –OH functional groups facilitating the reactions. We found that the counter-cation TBMA⁺ acts as a bifunctional promoter: the –OH groups function as a bidentate ‘anchor’ bridging the nucleophile [¹⁸F]F⁻ and the –OTs leaving group or the third –OH. These electrostatic interactions cooperate for the formation of the transition states of a very compact configuration for facile S_N2 ¹⁸F-fluorination.     

Evaluation of steviol and its glycosides in Stevia rebaudiana leaves and commercial sweetener by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Stevia rebaudiana leaves contain non-cariogenic and non-caloric sweeteners (steviol-glycosides) whose consumption could exert beneficial effects on human health. Steviol-glycosides are considered safe; nonetheless, studies on animals highlighted adverse effects attributed to the aglycone steviol. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate two different ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography methods with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS) to evaluate steviol-glycosides or steviol in Stevia leaves and commercial sweetener (Truvia^®). Steviol-glycosides identity was preliminarily established by UV spectra comparison, molecular ion and product ions evaluation, while routine analyses were carried out in single ion reaction (SIR) monitoring their negative chloride adducts. Samples were sequentially extracted by methanol, cleaned-up by SPE cartridge and the analytes separated by UHPLC HSS C₁₈ column (150 mm × 2.1 mm I.D., 1.8 μm). The use of CH₂Cl₂ added to the mobile phase as source of Cl⁻ enhance sensitivity. The LLOD for stevioside, rebaudioside A, steviolbioside and steviol was 15, 50, 10 and 1 ng ml⁻¹, respectively. Assay validation demonstrated good performances in terms of accuracy (89–103%), precision (<4.3%), repeatability (<5.7%) and linearity (40–180 mg/g). Stevioside (5.8 ± 1.3%), rebaudioside A (1.8 ± 1.2%) and rebaudioside C (1.3 ± 1.4%) were the most abundant steviol-glycosides found in samples of Stevia (n = 10) from southern Italy. Rebaudioside A was the main steviol-glycosides found in Truvia^® (0.84 ± 0.03%). The amounts of steviol-glycosides obtained by the UHPLC-MS method matched those given by the traditional LC-NH₂-UV method. Steviol was found in all the leaves extract (2.7–13.2 mg kg⁻¹) but was not detected in Truvia^® (<1 μg kg⁻¹). The proposed UHPLC-MS methods can be applied for the routine quality control of Stevia leaves and their commercial preparations.     

η-Arene complexes of ruthenium and osmium with pendant donor functionalities

Conversion of 4′-(2,5-dihydrophenyl)butanol or N-trifluoroacetyl-2,5-dihydrobenzylamine with MCl₃·n H₂O (M = Ru, Os) affords the corresponding dimeric η⁶-arene complexes in good to excellent yields. Under similar reaction conditions, the amine functionalized arene precursor 2,5-dihydrobenzylamine yields the corresponding Ru(II) complex. For osmium, HCl induced oxidation leads to formation of [OsCl₆]²⁻ salts. However, under optimized reaction conditions, conversion of the precursor 2,5-dihydrobenzylamine chloride results in clean formation of η⁶-arene Os(II) complex. X-ray structures of [(η⁶-benzyl ammonium)(dmso)RuCl₂] and (2,5-dihydrobenzyl ammonium)₄[OsCl₆]₂confirm the spectroscopic data. High stability towards air and acid as well as enhanced solubility in water is observed for all η⁶-arene complexes.     

Reactions of fluorinated silanes with 2-nitrocinnamates

The interaction of 2-nitrocinnamates with silicon reagents Me₃SiR_f (R_f = CF₃, C₂F₅, and C₆F₅) promoted either by sodium acetate in DMF or by tetrabutylammonium acetate in dichloromethane has been described. The reactions proceed as conjugate addition of fluorinated carbanion at the CC bond and afford 3-aryl-2-nitrobutanoates bearing a fluorinated substituent in good yields as diastereomeric mixtures in ratio from 1:1 to 1.6:1.     

Syntheses,structures, and optical properties of heteroselenometallic W–Se–Ag polymer compounds {[Et4N][(μ-WSe4)Ag]}n and {[Ln(Me2SO)8][(μ3-WSe4)3Ag3]}n (Ln = Pr,Er)

The one-dimensional linear polymer W–Se–Ag compound {[Et₄N][(μ-WSe₄)Ag]}_n (1) was obtained from the reaction of [Et₄N]₂[WSe₄] and AgNO₃ in a mixed solvent, MeCN/DMF (1:10). Treatment of a solution of 1 in Me₂SO with Ln(NO₃)₃ · 6H₂O resulted in the formation of a helical chain polymer compound {[Ln(Me₂SO)₈][(μ₃-WSe₄)₃Ag₃]}_n (Ln = Pr 2, Er 3). The solid-state structures of the three polymer compounds 1, 2, and 3 have been established by X-ray crystallography. The third-order non-linear optical properties of the linear polymer compound 1 were determined by z-scan techniques with 7 ns pulses at 532 nm.     

Dimeric allylpalladium(II) complexes with pyrazolate bridges: Synthesis, characterization, structure and thermal behaviour

The synthesis, characterization and thermal behaviour of some new dimeric allylpalladium (II) complexes bridged by pyrazolate ligands are reported. The complexes ; R = H, R′ = C(CH₃)₃ (1b), R = H, R′ = CF₃ (1c); R = CH₃, R′ = CH(CH₃)₂ (2a); R = CH₃, R′ = C(CH₃)₃ (2b); and R = CH₃, R′ = CF₃ (2c)] have been prepared by the room temperature reaction of [Pd(η³-CH₂C(R)CH₂)(acac)](acac = acetylacetonate) with 3,5-disubstituted pyrazoles in acetonitrile solution. The complexes have been characterized by NMR (¹H, ¹³C{¹H}), FT-IR, and elemental analyses. The structure of a representative complex, viz. 2c, has been established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The dinuclear molecule features two formally square planar palladium centres which are bridged by two pyrazole ligands and the coordination of each metal centre is completed by allyl substituents. The molecule has non-crystallographic mirror symmetry. Thermogravimetric studies have been carried out to evaluate the thermal stability of these complexes. Most of the complexes thermally decompose in argon atmosphere to give nanocrystals of palladium, which have been characterized by XRD, SEM and TEM. However, complex 2c can be sublimed in vacuo at 2 mbar without decomposition. The equilibrium vapour pressure of 2c has been measured by the Knudsen effusion technique. The vapour pressure of the complex 2c could be expressed by the relation: ln (p/Pa)(±0.06) = −18047.3/T + 46.85. The enthalpy and entropy of vapourization are found to be 150.0 ± 3 kJ mol⁻¹ and 389.5 ± 8 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively.     

Preparation and C NMR study on 1-aryl-3,3-difluoro-2-(phenylethynyl)cyclopropenes: long distance Hammett substituent effect

Coupling of 1-aryl-3,3-difluoro-2-chlorocyclopropenes and phenylacetylene using Sonogashira reaction with Pd(OAc)₂ and CuI as the catalyst with K₂CO₃ as a base yields phenylethynylcyclopropenes in high selectivity and good yields. The ¹³C chemical shifts of C? of ∼105 ppm on acetylene group significantly different from phenylacetylene (84 ppm) suggest that the acetylene group possesses less sp hybrid character due to an unusual long distance Hammett substituent effect. It is also confirmed by the substituent parameter analysis, while the Cβ and C? display the strong resonance effect (their values are 6.89 and 3.37, respectively).     

Study of the in vitro degradation of poly(ethyl glyoxylate)

In vitro degradation of poly(ethyl glyoxylate) (PEtG), a functionalised polyacetal, was investigated. First, the thermodynamic polymerization parameters and the ceiling temperature (T_c) were determined (ΔH_p = 28 ± 3 kJ mol⁻¹, ΔS_p = 98 ± 7 J mol⁻¹ K⁻¹, T_c = 310 ± 4 K). Secondly, PEtG hydrolysis was investigated using potentiometry, weight loss measurements, SEC and ¹H NMR. The results show that PEtG is stable for at least 7 days in aqueous media. Then degradation occurs and releases ethanol and glyoxylic acid hydrate as final products. A scheme for the degradation mechanism involving chain scission and ester hydrolysis is proposed.     

Preparation of the novel fluorine-18-labeled VIP analog for PET imaging studies using two different synthesis methods

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors are expressed on various tumor cells in much higher density than somatostatin receptors, which provides the basis for radiolabeling VIP as tumor diagnostic agent. However, fast proteolytic degradation of VIP in vivo limits its clinical application. With the aim to develop and evaluate new ligands for depicting the VIP receptors with positron emission tomography (PET), the structure modified [R^8,15,21, L¹⁷]-VIP analog was radiolabeled with ¹⁸F using two different methods. With the first method, N-4-[¹⁸F]fluorobenzoyl-[R^8,15,21, L¹⁷]-VIP ([¹⁸F]FB-[R^8,15,21, L¹⁷]-VIP 7) was produced in a decay-corrected radiochemical yield (RCY) of 33.6 ± 3%, a specific radioactivity of 255 GBq/μmol (n = 5) within 100 min in four steps. Similarly, N-4-[¹⁸F](fluoromethyl)-benzoyl-[R^8,15,21, L¹⁷]-VIP ([¹⁸F]FMB-[R^8,15,21, L¹⁷]-VIP 8) was synthesized in a RCY of 34.85 ± 5%, a specific radioactivity of 180 GBq/μmol (n = 5) within 60 min in only one step. The two products 7 and 8 were both shown good stability in HSA. Moreover, the low bone uptakes of 7 and 8 in vivo of mice showed good defluorination stability.     

Kinetics and mechanism of hydroboration reactions of HBBr2 · SMe2 and HBCl2 · SMe2 - Application of B NMR spectroscopy

The kinetics and mechanism of the hydroboration reactions of 1-octene with HBBr₂ · SMe₂ and HBCl₂ · SMe₂, in CH₂Cl₂ as a solvent, were studied. Rates of hydroboration were monitored using ¹¹B NMR spectroscopy. The reactions exhibited simple second-order kinetics of the form . The HBCl₂ · SMe₂ was found to be 20 times more reactive than the HBBr₂ · SMe₂. The overall activation parameters (ΔH^≠, ΔS^≠) for the reaction of HBBr₂ · SMe₂ with 1-octene were found to be 82 ± 1 kJ mol⁻¹, −18 ± 4 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹ and with 1-hexyne were 78 ± 4 kJ mol⁻¹ −34 ± 12 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. For the reaction of HBCl₂ · SMe₂ with 1-octene, ΔH^≠ and ΔS^≠ were 104 ± 5 kJ mol⁻¹ and 43 ± 16 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. The activation parameters (ΔH^≠, ΔS^≠) for the dissociation of Me₂S from HBBr₂ · SMe₂ were found to be 104 ± 2 kJ mol⁻¹, +33 ± 8 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. Based on the activation parameters, it was concluded that the detaching of Me₂S from the boron centre follows a dissociative mechanism, while the hydroboration process follows an associative pathway. It was also concluded that the dissociation of Me₂S from the boron centre is the rate determining step.