Synthesis of Cyclic Amine Boranes through Triazole‐Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Alkyne Hydroboration

The first catalytic alkyne hydroboration of propargyl amine boranecarbonitriles is accomplished with triazole‐Au^I complexes. While the typical [L‐Au]⁺ species decomposes within minutes upon addition of amine boranecarbonitriles, the triazole‐modified gold catalysts (TA‐Au) remained active, and allowed the synthesis of 1,2‐BN‐cyclopentenes in one step with good to excellent yields. With good substrate tolerability and mild reaction conditions (open‐flask), this new method provides an alternative route to reach the interesting cyclic amine borane with high efficiency.     

A 1,3,2‐ox­aza­borolidine dimer derived from (S)‐α,α‐di­phenyl­prolinol

The reaction of (S)‐α,α‐di­phenyl­prolinol with an excess of borane–tetra­hydro­furan complex yields a stable crystalline material with the composition C₃₄H₃₈B₂N₂O₂, which features a borane adduct of a spiro­cyclic structure with two ox­aza­borolidine rings joined by a central tetrahedral B atom. This dimeric ox­aza­borolidine complex, viz. 3,3,3′,3′‐tetra­phenyl‐1,1′‐spiro­bi(3a,4,5,6‐tetra­hydro‐3H‐pyrrolo­[1,2‐c][1,3,2]­ox­azaborole)–7‐borane, is the dominant product under various reaction conditions; its crystal structure is consistent with ¹¹B, ¹H and ¹³C NMR and IR analyses.     

Synthesis and Reactivity of Cyclic Borane‐Amidine Conjugated Molecules Formed by Direct 1,2‐Carboboration of Carbodiimides with 9‐Borafluorenes

Efficient 1,2‐carboboration reactions to the C=N bond of carbodiimides with 9‐borafluorenes, which give rise to cyclic borane‐amidine conjugates with a seven‐membered BNC₅ ring, are reported. The resulting cyclic borane‐amidine conjugates can be hydrolyzed into an acyclic bifunctional biaryl compound carrying both boronic acid and amidine groups, rendering the utility of the two‐step protocol for the synthesis of multi‐functionalized molecular systems with a potential as a supramolecular building block. Furthermore, the conjugated structure of the cyclic boron‐amidine compounds can be changed upon alkylation of the boron atom that increases the coordination number of boron. The combination of Lewis acid (borane) and conjugated base (amidine) provides rich structural diversity of heteroatom‐containing π‐conjugated systems.     

Hydro­gen bonding in N,N′‐bis­[(1S)‐2‐azido‐1‐(2‐methyl­propyl)­ethyl]­oxal­amide: twofold symmetry of R(10) hydrogen‐bonded dimers connected into an α‐network

The title compound, C₁₄H₂₆N₈O₂, belongs to a class of retropeptides with an oxal­amide unit (–NH–CO–CO–NH–), and is a precursor for the synthesis of an amine‐terminal gelator. The compound is a good synthon for one‐dimensional hydrogen bonding. The crystal structure reveals a hydrogen‐bonded cyclic dimer with unusual twofold rotation symmetry.     

Sequential C−H Borylation and N‐Demethylation of 1,1′‐Biphenylamines: Alternative Route to Polycyclic BN‐Heteroarenes

Described herein is an unprecedented access to BN‐polyaromatic compounds from 1,1′‐biphenylamines by sequential borane‐mediated C(sp²)?H borylation and intramolecular N‐demethylation. The conveniently in situ generated Piers’ borane from a borinic acid reacts with a series of N,N‐dimethyl‐1,1′‐biphenyl‐2‐amines in the presence of PhSiH₃ to afford six‐membered amine‐borane adducts bearing a C(sp²)?B bond at the C2′‐position. These species undergo an intramolecular N‐demethylation with a B(C₆F₅)₃ catalyst to provide BN‐isosteres of polyaromatics. According to computational studies, a stepwise ionic pathway is suggested. Photophysical characters of the resultant BN‐heteroarenes shown them to be distinctive from those of all‐carbon analogues.     

Hydrogen Release from Dialkylamine–Boranes Promoted by Mg and Ca Complexes: A DFT Analysis of the Reaction Mechanism

Mg and Ca β‐diketiminato silylamides [HC{(Me)CN(2,6‐iPr₂C₆H₃)}₂M(THF)_n{N(SiMe₃)₂}] (M=Mg, n=0; M=Ca, n=1) were studied as precatalysts for the dehydrogenation/dehydrocoupling of secondary amine–boranes R₂HNBH₃. By reaction with equimolar quantities of amine–boranes, the corresponding amidoborane derivatives are formed, which further react to yield dehydrogenation products such as the cyclic dimer [BH₂?NMe₂]₂. DFT was used here to explore the mechanistic alternatives proposed on the basis of the experimental findings for both Mg and Ca amidoboranes. The influence of the steric demand of amine–boranes on the course of the reaction was examined by performing calculations on the dehydrogenation of dimethylamine–borane (DMAB), pyrrolidine–borane (PB), and diisopropylamine–borane. In spite of the analogies in the catalytic activity of Mg‐ and Ca‐based complexes in the dehydrocoupling of amine–boranes, our theoretical analysis confirmed the experimentally observed lower reactivity of Ca complexes. Differences in catalytic activity of Mg‐ and Ca‐based complexes were examined and rationalized. As a consequence of the increase in ionic radius on going from Mg²⁺ to Ca²⁺, the dehydrogenation mechanism changes and formation of a key metal hydride intermediate becomes inaccessible. Dimerization is likely to occur off‐metal in solution for DMAB and PB, whereas steric hindrance of iPr₂NHBH₃ hampers formation of the cyclic dimer. The reported results are of particular interest because, although amine–borane dehydrogenation is now well established, mechanistic insight is still lacking for many systems.     

Synthesis of a New Chiral Source, (1R,2S)‐1‐Phenylphospholane‐2‐carboxylic Acid,via a Key Intermediate α‐Phenylphospholanyllithium Borane Complex: Configurational Stability and X‐ray Crystal Structure of an α‐Monophosphinoalkyllithium Borane Complex

A synthetic route to enantiomerically pure (1R,2S)‐1‐phenylphospholane‐2‐carboxylic acid ( 1 ), which is a phosphorus analogue of proline, has been established. A key step is the deprotonation–carboxylation of the 1‐phenylphospholane borane complex 3 by using sBuLi/1,2‐dipiperidinoethane (DPE). Configurational stability of the key intermediate, the amine‐coordinated α‐phosphinoalkyllithium borane complex 4 , was investigated by employing lithiodestannylation–carboxylation of both diastereomers of the 1‐phenyl‐2‐trimethylstannylphospholane borane complex 7 in the presence of several kinds of amines, and as a result, 4 was found to be configurationally labile even at ?100 °C. The key intermediate, the DPE‐coordinated trans‐1‐phenyl‐2‐phospholanyllithium borane complex 9 , was isolated, and the structure was identified by X‐ray crystal structure analysis. This is the first X‐ray crystal structure determined for an α‐monophosphinoalkyllithium borane complex. Remarkably, the alkyllithium complex is monomeric and tricoordinate at the lithium center with a slightly pyramidalized environment, and the existence of a Li? C bond (2.170 Å) has been confirmed. Moreover, ¹H–⁷Li HOESY and ⁶Li NMR analyses suggested the structure of 9 in solution as well as the existence of an equilibrium between 9 , its cis isomer, and the ion pair 8 at room temperature, which was extremely biased towards 9 at ?100 °C. Finally, 1 was used as a chiral ligand in a palladium‐catalyzed allylic substitution, and the desired product was obtained in high yield with good enantioselectivity.     

On the Use of Amine–Borane Complexes To Synthesize Iron Nanoparticles

The effectiveness of amine–borane as reducing agent for the synthesis of iron nanoparticles has been investigated. Large (2–4 nm) Fe nanoparticles were obtained from [Fe{N(SiMe₃)₂}₂]. Inclusion of boron in the nanoparticles is clearly evidenced by extended X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectrometry. Furthermore, the reactivity of amine–borane and amino–borane complexes in the presence of pure Fe nanoparticles has been investigated. Dihydrogen evolution was observed in both cases, which suggests the potential of Fe nanoparticles to promote the release of dihydrogen from amine–borane and amino–borane moieties.     

A Highly cis‐Selective and Enantioselective Metal‐Free Hydrogenation of 2,3‐Disubstituted Quinoxalines

A wide range of 2,3‐disubstituted quinoxalines have been successfully hydrogenated with H₂ using borane catalysts to produce the desired tetrahydroquinoxalines in 80–99 % yields with excellent cis selectivity. Significantly, the asymmetric reaction employing chiral borane catalysts generated by the in situ hydroboration of chiral dienes with HB(C₆F₅)₂ under mild reaction conditions has also been achieved with up to 96 % ee, and represents the first catalytic asymmetric system to furnish optically active cis‐2,3‐disubstituted 1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoxalines.     

Photo‐promoted Skeletal Rearrangement of Phosphine–Borane Frustrated Lewis Pairs Involving Cleavage of Unstrained C−C σ‐Bonds

An unprecedented photo‐promoted skeletal rearrangement reaction of phosphine–borane frustrated Lewis pairs, o‐(borylaryl)phosphines, involving cleavage of an unstrained sp²C–sp³C σ‐bond is reported. The reaction realizes an efficient synthesis of cyclic phosphonium borate compounds. The reaction mechanism via a boranorcaradiene intermediate is proposed based on theoretical calculations. This work sheds light on the new photoreactivity of phosphine–borane FLPs.     

N,N′‐Diethyl‐4‐nitrobenzene‐1,3‐diamine, 2,6‐bis(ethylamino)‐3‐nitrobenzonitrile and bis(4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone

N,N′‐Diethyl‐4‐nitrobenzene‐1,3‐diamine, C₁₀H₁₅N₃O₂, (I), crystallizes with two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit, both of which are nearly planar. The molecules differ in the conformation of the ethylamine group trans to the nitro group. Both molecules contain intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds between the adjacent amine and nitro groups and are linked into one‐dimensional chains by intermolecular N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The chains are organized in layers parallel to (101) with separations of ca 3.4 Å between adjacent sheets. The packing is quite different from what was observed in isomeric 1,3‐bis(ethylamino)‐2‐nitrobenzene. 2,6‐Bis(ethylamino)‐3‐nitrobenzonitrile, C₁₁H₁₄N₄O₂, (II), differs from (I) only in the presence of the nitrile functionality between the two ethylamine groups. Compound (II) crystallizes with one unique molecule in the asymmetric unit. In contrast with (I), one of the ethylamine groups, which is disordered over two sites with occupancies of 0.75 and 0.25, is positioned so that the methyl group is directed out of the plane of the ring by approximately 85°. This ethylamine group forms an intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond with the adjacent nitro group. The packing in (II) is very different from that in (I). Molecules of (II) are linked by both intermolecular amine–nitro N—H...O and amine–nitrile N—H...N hydrogen bonds into a two‐dimensional network in the (10) plane. Alternating molecules are approximately orthogonal to one another, indicating that π–π interactions are not a significant factor in the packing. Bis(4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrophenyl) sulfone, C₁₆H₁₈N₄O₆S, (III), contains the same ortho nitro/ethylamine pairing as in (I), with the position para to the nitro group occupied by the sulfone instead of a second ethylamine group. Each 4‐ethylamino‐3‐nitrobenzene moiety is nearly planar and contains the typical intramolecular N—H...O hydrogen bond. Due to the tetrahedral geometry about the S atom, the molecules of (III) adopt an overall V shape. There are no intermolecular amine–nitro hydrogen bonds. Rather, each amine H atom has a long (H...O ca 2.8 Å) interaction with one of the sulfone O atoms. Molecules of (III) are thus linked by amine–sulfone N—H...O hydrogen bonds into zigzag double chains running along [001]. Taken together, these structures demonstrate that small changes in the functionalization of ethylamine–nitroarenes cause significant differences in the intermolecular interactions and packing.     

(1R,3R,4S)‐1‐Benzyl‐3‐(tert‐butyldimethylsilyloxy)‐4‐(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine–borane: novel B—H...H—O hydrogen bonding

The absolute configuration of the title cis‐(1R,3R,4S)‐pyrrolidine–borane complex, C₁₈H₃₄BNO₂Si, was confirmed. Together with the related trans isomers (3S,4S) and (3R,4R), it was obtained unexpectedly from the BH₃·SMe₂ reduction of the corresponding chiral (3R,4R)‐lactam precursor. The phenyl ring is disordered over two conformations in the ratio 0.65:0.35. The crystallographic packing is dominated by the rarely found donor–acceptor hydroxy–borane O—H...H—B hydrogen bonds.     

Influence of Temperatures on the Tautomerism of the N‐(1H‐imidazoline‐2‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐amine and Investigation of Its Electrochemical Behaviour

Synthesis of N‐(1H‐imidazoline‐2‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐amine was carried out under microwave irradiation (MWI) conditions. Dynamic ¹H NMR investigation of N‐(1H‐imidazoline‐2‐yl)‐1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐amine compound was reported at temperature range of 223–333 K in DMF‐d₇. Some physical parameters, such as coalescence temperature (T_c), the free energy of activation (ΔG^??) and rate constant (k) values were calculated from its ¹H NMR spectra at various temperatures. Electrochemical feature of this compound was investigated by cyclic (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV).     

Hydrogen‐bonded one‐dimensional networks in 1:1 complexes of N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)aryldiamines with anilic acid

The 1:1 complexes N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)­benzene‐1,4‐di­amine–anilic acid (2,5‐di­hydroxy‐1,4‐benzo­quinone) (1/1), C₁₆H₁₄N₄·C₆H₄O₄, (I), and N,N′‐bis(2‐pyridyl)­bi­phenyl‐4,4′‐di­amine–anilic acid (1/1), C₂₂H₁₈N₄·C₆H₄O₄, (II), have been prepared and their solid‐state structures investigated. The component mol­ecules of these complexes are connected via conventional N—H?O and O—H?N hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of an infinite one‐dimensional network generated by the cyclic motif R(9). The anilic acid molecules in both crystal structures lie around inversion centres and the observed bond lengths are typical for the neutral mol­ecule. Nevertheless, the pyridine C—N—C angles [120.9 (2) and 120.13 (17)° for complexes (I) and (II), respectively] point to a partial H‐atom transfer from anilic aicd to the bispyridyl­amine, and hence to H‐atom disorder in the OHN bridge. The bispyridyl­amine mol­ecules of (I) and (II) also lie around inversion centres and exhibit disorder of their central phenyl rings over two positions.     

trans‐Aquachloro[(1R,4R,8S,11S)‐6,13‐diammonio‐6,13‐dimethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetra­azacyclo­tetra­decane‐κ4N1,4,8,11]nickel(II) trichloride trihydrate

The title compound, [NiCl(C₁₂H₃₂N₆)(H₂O)]Cl₃·3H₂O, has the bis­(diamine)‐substituted cyclic tetra­amine in a planar coordination to triplet ground‐state Ni^II [average Ni—N = 2.068 (3) Å], with a chloride ion [Ni—Cl = 2.4520 (5) Å] and a water mol­ecule [Ni—O = 2.177 (2) Å] coordinated in the axial sites. The amine substituents are protonated and equatorially oriented. The amine groups, ammonium groups, water molecules and chloride ions are linked by an extensive hydrogen‐bonding network.     

The Simplest Amino‐borane H2B=NH2 Trapped on a Rhodium Dimer: Pre‐Catalysts for Amine–Borane Dehydropolymerization

The μ‐amino–borane complexes [Rh₂(L^R)₂(μ‐H)(μ‐H₂B=NHR′)][BAr^F₄] (L^R=R₂P(CH₂)₃PR₂; R=Ph, ⁱPr; R′=H, Me) form by addition of H₃B?NMeR′H₂ to [Rh(L^R)(η⁶‐C₆H₅F)][BAr^F₄]. DFT calculations demonstrate that the amino–borane interacts with the Rh centers through strong Rh‐H and Rh‐B interactions. Mechanistic investigations show that these dimers can form by a boronium‐mediated route, and are pre‐catalysts for amine‐borane dehydropolymerization, suggesting a possible role for bimetallic motifs in catalysis.     

Gold(III) Chloride Catalyzed Synthesis of Chiral Substituted 3‐Formyl Furans from Carbohydrates: Application in the Synthesis of 1,5‐Dicarbonyl Derivatives and Furo[3,2‐c]pyridine

This report describes a gold(III)‐catalyzed efficient general route to densely substituted chiral 3‐formyl furans under extremely mild conditions from suitably protected 5‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyran‐4‐one using H₂O as a nucleophile. The reaction proceeds through the initial formation of an activated alkyne–gold(III) complex intermediate, followed by either a domino nucleophilic attack/anti‐endo‐dig cyclization, or the formation of a cyclic oxonium ion with subsequent attack by H₂O. To confirm the proposed mechanistic pathway, we employed MeOH as a nucleophile instead of H₂O to result in a substituted furo[3,2‐c]pyran derivative, as anticipated. The similar furo[3,2‐c]pyran skeleton with a hybrid carbohydrate–furan derivative has also been achieved through pyridinium dichromate (PDC) oxidation of a substituted chiral 3‐formyl furan. The corresponding protected 5‐(1‐alkynyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyran‐4‐one can be synthesized from the monosaccharides (both hexoses and pentose) following oxidation, iodination, and Sonogashira coupling sequences. Furthermore, to demonstrate the potentiality of chiral 3‐formyl furan derivatives, a TiBr₄‐catalyzed reaction of these derivatives has been shown to offer efficient access to 1,5‐dicarbonyl compounds, which on treatment with NH₄OAc in slightly acidic conditions afforded substituted furo[3,2‐c]pyridine.     

A Highly Effective Ruthenium System for the Catalyzed Dehydrogenative Cyclization of Amine–Boranes to Cyclic Boranes under Mild Conditions

We recently disclosed a new ruthenium‐catalyzed dehydrogenative cyclization process (CDC) of diamine–monoboranes leading to cyclic diaminoboranes. In the present study, the CDC reaction has been successfully extended to a larger number of diamine–monoboranes ( 4 – 7 ) and to one amine–borane alcohol precursor ( 8 ). The corresponding NB(H)N‐ and NB(H)O‐containing cyclic diaminoboranes ( 12 – 15 ) and oxazaborolidine ( 16 ) were obtained in good to high yields. Multiple substitution patterns on the starting amine–borane substrates were evaluated and the reaction was also performed with chiral substrates. Efforts have been spent to understand the mechanism of the ruthenium CDC process. In addition to a computational approach, a strategy enabling the kinetic discrimination on successive events of the catalytic process leading to the formation of the NB(H)N linkage was performed on the six‐carbon chain diamine–monoborane 21 and completed with a ¹⁵N NMR study. The long‐life bis‐σ‐borane ruthenium intermediate 23 possessing a reactive NHMe ending was characterized in situ and proved to catalyze the dehydrogenative cyclization of 1 , ascertaining that bis σ‐borane ruthenium complexes are key intermediates in the CDC process.     

PC‐Activated Bimetallic Rhodium Xantphos Complexes: Formation and Catalytic Dehydrocoupling of Amine–Boranes

{Rh(xantphos)}‐based phosphido dimers form by P? C activation of xantphos (4,5‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐9,9‐dimethylxanthene) in the presence of amine–boranes. These dimers are active dehydrocoupling catalysts, forming polymeric [H₂BNMeH]_n from H₃B?NMeH₂ and dimeric [H₂BNMe₂]₂ from H₃B?NMe₂H at low catalyst loadings (0.1 mol %). Mechanistic investigations support a dimeric active species, suggesting that bimetallic catalysis may be possible in amine–borane dehydropolymerization.     

Minimalistic Ditopic Ligands: An α‐S,N‐Donor‐Substituted Alkyne as Effective Intermetallic Conjugation Linker

The capability of donor‐substituted alkynes to link different metal ions in a side‐on carbon donor‐chelate coordination mode is extended from the donor centers S and P to the second period element N. The complex [Tp′W(CO)₂{η²‐C₂(S)(NHBn)}] (Tp′=hydrido‐tris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl)borate, Bn=benzyl) bearing a terminal sulfur atom and a secondary amine substituent is accessible by a metal‐template synthesis. Subsequent deprotonation allowed the formation of remarkably stable heterobimetallic complexes with the [(η⁵‐C₅H₅)Ru(PPh₃)] and the [Ir(ppy)₂] moiety. Electrochemical and spectroscopic investigations (cyclic voltammetry, IR, UV/Vis, luminescence, EPR), as well as DFT calculations, and X‐ray structure determinations of the W–Ru complex in two oxidation states reveal a strong metal–metal coupling but also a limited delocalization of excited states.