Oligo(borolyl)benzenes—Synthesis and Properties

Herein, we report the synthesis of boroles that are linked by a conjugated phenylene spacer. The characterization of these compounds was completed by NMR and UV/Vis spectroscopy, as well as X‐ray crystal diffraction. Furthermore, the coordination behavior of these oligoboroles towards five electronically and sterically disparate pyridine derivatives was studied and revealed fundamental differences in the properties of the resulting adducts. The experimental results were supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations that showed a charge‐transfer effect upon formation of the pyridine‐4‐carbonitrile adduct. By chemical reduction of a tris(borolyl)‐substituted benzene derivative, a hexaanion was isolated as a result of a two‐electron reduction of each borolyl moiety. The interaction of the borolyl units through the aryl spacer, and the possible increase of the Lewis acidity due to the conjugation of the borolyl moieties, were investigated by base transfer reactions.     

Establishing the Coordination Chemistry of Antimony(V) Cations: Systematic Assessment of Ph4Sb(OTf) and Ph3Sb(OTf)2 as Lewis Acceptors

The coordination chemistry of the stiboranes Ph₄Sb(OTf) ( 1 a , OTf = OSO₂CF₃) and Ph₃Sb(OTf)₂ ( 3 ) with Lewis bases has been investigated. The significant steric encumbrance of the Sb center in 1 a precludes interaction with most ligands, but the relatively low steric demands of 4‐methylpyridine‐N‐oxide (OPyrMe) and OPMe₃ enabled the characterization of [Ph₄Sb(OPyrMe)][OTf] ( 2 a ) and [Ph₄Sb(OPMe₃)][OTf] ( 2 b ), rare examples of structurally characterized complexes of stibonium acceptors. In contrast, 3 was found to engage a variety of Lewis bases, forming stable isolable complexes of the form [Ph₃Sb(donor)₂][OTf]₂ [donor=OPMe₃ ( 6 a ), OPCy₃ ( 6 b , Cy=cyclohexyl), OPPh₃ ( 6 c ), OPyrMe ( 6 d )], [Ph₃Sb(dmap)₂(OTf)][OTf] ( 6 e , dmap=4‐(dimethylamino)pyridine) and [Ph₃Sb(donor)(OTf)][OTf] [donor=1,10‐phenanthroline ( 7 a ) or 2,2′‐bipy ( 7 b , bipy=bipyridine)]. These compounds exhibit significant structural diversity in the solid‐state, and undergo ligand exchange reactions in line with their assignment as coordination complexes. Compound 3 did not form stable complexes with phosphine donors, with reactions instead leading to redox processes yielding SbPh₃ and products of phosphine oxidation.     

Inside Cover: Perfluoropentaphenylborole (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 16/2009)

Perfluoroaryl boranes are an important class of organometallic Lewis acids. The synthesis of perfluorinated compounds brings special challenges to tried‐and‐true synthetic methodologies. In their Communication on page 2955 ff., W. E. Piers and co‐workers present the synthesis of a new, fully fluorinated heterocyclic borane that is also a member of the rare antiaromatic borole class of compounds. The route relies on normally facile transmetallation reactions made more difficult by the electron‐withdrawing C₆F₅ groups of the target product.

     

Synthetic studies of furanosesquiterpenoid tetrahydrolinderazulenes. Total synthesis of (±)-echinofuran

Echinofuran (1) was isolated in 1992 and was reported to inhibit cell division of fertilized sea urchin eggs. The synthesis of 1 was achieved by a Ring A→Ring AC→Ring ABC approach employing 3-methyl-4-(trimethylsilyl)furan (2) as a precursor. A Suzuki coupling reaction and a Lewis acid mediated Friedel-Crafts cyclization were the other key steps in the construction of the ring systems. In other preliminary model studies, two furan-containing 5,7,5-fused tricyclic molecules were also realized.     

Synthesis of the first chiral bidendate bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphane ligand through stabilization of the bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphanide anion in the presence of acetone

Lewis acid/Lewis base adduct formation of the P(CF3)2- ion and acetone leads to a reduced negative hyperconjugation and, therefore, limits the C--F bond activation. The resulting increased thermal stability of the P(CF3)2- ion in the presence of acetone allows selective substitutions and enables the synthesis of the first example of a chiral, bidentate bis(trifluoromethyl)phosphane ligand: a DIOP derivative, [(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4,5-diyl)bis(methylene)]bis(diphenylphosphane), in which the phenyl groups at the phosphorus atoms are replaced by strong electron-withdrawing trifluoromethyl groups. The resulting high electron-acceptor strength of the synthesized bidentate (CF3)2P ligand is demonstrated by a structural and vibrational study of the corresponding tetracarbonyl-molybdenum complex. The stabilization of the P(CF3)2- ion in the presence of acetone is based on the formation of a dynamic Lewis acid/Lewis base couple, (CF3)2PC(CH3)2O-. Although there is no spectroscopic evidence for the formation of the formulated alcoholate ion, the intermediate formation of (CF3)2PC(CH3)2O- could be proved through the reaction with (CF3)2PP(CF3)2, which yields the novel phosphane-phosphinite ligand (CF3)2PC(CH3)2OP(CF3)2. This ligand readily forms square-planar Pt(II) complexes upon treatment with solid PtCl2.     

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.     

Beryllium Phosphine Complexes: Synthesis,Properties, and Reactivity of (PMe3)2BeCl2 and (Ph2PC3H6PPh2)BeCl2

The directed synthesis, spectroscopic properties, and reactivity of bis(trimethylphosphine) beryllium dichloride ( 1 ) and bis(diphenylphosphino)propane beryllium dichloride ( 2 ) are reported, including the crystal structure of (PMe₃)₂BeCl₂ ( 1 ). These four‐coordinate beryllium compounds can be alkylated with n‐butyllithium (ⁿBuLi) to give three‐coordinate (Ph₂PC₃H₆PPh₂)BeⁿBu₂ ( 3 ) and (PMe₃)BeⁿBu₂ ( 4 ). PMe₃ can be removed from (PMe₃)BeⁿBu₂ ( 4 ) in vacuo to yield [ⁿBu₂Be]₂ ( 5 ). For the first time, the presence of [ⁿBu₂Be]₂ as a dimer in solution, which has been postulated for decades, could be observed spectroscopically. This novel, ether‐free pathway provides access to beryllium dialkyl compounds that have never been in contact with oxygen‐atom‐containing reagents or solvents. This “freeness from oxygen” is crucial for semiconductor applications where oxygen is often unwanted and must be avoided at all costs.     

(Cyclopentadienyl)trioxorhenium(VII) – no Match for Methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)

Together with a further improvement of the synthesis of (cyclopentadienyl)trioxorhenium(VII), CpReO₃, its reaction chemistry and catalytic activity is also revisited in greater detail. However, in spite of the high catalytic activity of the homologous methyltrioxorhenium(VII) (MTO) and the related CpMo(O₂)X, (X = R, Hal, etc.) it is seen that CpReO₃ suffers greatly from the lability of the Cp‐Re bond under oxidative conditions and in the presence of electron donor ligands. (Cyclopentadienyl)trioxorhenium(VII) although accessible very conveniently, neither matches the rich reaction chemistry of its pentamethylcyclopentadienyl derivative, Cp*ReO₃ nor the catalytic versatility of MTO.     

Synthesis and reactivity of 3-(trichlorogermyl)propanoic acid and 3-(triphenylgermyl) propanoic acid

3-(Trichlorogermyl)propanoic acid (la) reacts with phenylmagnesium bromide in malar ratio 1:4 to give 3-(triphenylgermyl)propanoic acid (2a).In the compounds la and 2a theβ-carboxylic functional group shows some unusual properties when they react with excess of phenylmagnesium bromide.The compound la reacts with phenylmagnesium bromide in molar ratio 1:5 to give phenyl 2-(triphenylgermyl)ethylketone (3a) and in molar ratio 1:6 to give l,l-diphenyl-3-(triphenylgermyl)propanol (4a).The compound 2a reacts with phenylmagnesium bromide in molar ratio 1:2 to give 3a and in molar ratio 1:3 to give 4a also.Dehydration of the compound 4a with dilute hydrochloric acid seems especially easy.Moreover,the compound la reacted with phenylmagnsium bromide in molar ratio 1:6,then the mixture was treated with dilute hydrochloric acid to give 1,1-diphenyl-3-(triphenylgermyl)-1-propene (5a) in one pot reaction.Alkyl Ge-C bond in the compound 5a can be cleaved selectively by lithium aluminium hydride ( LiAlH4) in good yiel     

Dihydrogen Activation with a Neutral,Intermolecular Silicon(IV)-Amine Frustrated Lewis Pair

The heterolytic cleavage of dihydrogen constitutes the hallmark reaction of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLP). While being well-established for planar Lewis acids, such as boranes or silylium ions, the observation of the primary H₂ splitting products with non-planar Lewis acid FLPs remained elusive. In the present work, we report bis(perfluoro-N-phenyl-ortho-amidophenolato)silane and its application in dihydrogen activation to a fully characterized hydridosilicate. The strict design of the Lewis acid, the limited selection of the Lewis base, and the distinct reaction conditions emphasize the narrow tolerance to achieve this fascinating process with a tetrahedral Lewis acid.