Rhodium‐Catalyzed PIII‐Directed ortho‐C−H Borylation of Arylphosphines

Transition‐metal‐mediated metalation of an aromatic C?H bond that is adjacent to a tertiary phosphine group in arylphosphines via a four‐membered chelate ring was first discovered in 1968. Herein, we overcome a long‐standing problem with the ortho‐C?H activation of arylphosphines in a catalytic fashion. In particular, we developed a rhodium‐catalyzed ortho‐selective C?H borylation of various commercially available arylphosphines with B₂pin₂ through P^III‐chelation‐assisted C?H activation. This discovery is suggestive of a generic platform that could enable the late‐stage modification of readily accessible arylphosphines.     

Exceptionally Strong Electron‐Donating Ability of Bora‐Ylide Substituent vis‐à‐vis Silylene and Silylium Ion

Electropositive boron‐based substituent (phosphonium bora‐ylide) with an exceptionally strong π‐ and σ‐electron donating character dramatically increases the stability of a new type of N ‐heterocyclic silylene 2 featuring amino‐ and bora‐ylide‐substituents. Moreover, the related silylium ion 4 and transition‐metal–silylene complexes, with trigonal‐planar geometries around the silicon center, are also well stabilized. Therefore, the N,B‐heterocyclic silylene 2 can be used as a strongly electron‐donating innocent ligand in coordination chemistry similarly to N ‐heterocyclic carbenes.