Transition metal-catalyzed dehydrocoupling of group 13-group 15 Lewis acid-base adducts

Transition metal-catalyzed dehydrocoupling is a relatively new method for main group element-element bond formation, providing a facile alternative to salt metathesis processes. Lewis acid-base adducts of Groups 13 and 15 can undergo dehydrocoupling with both early and late transition metals and complexes thereof to yield rings, chains and macromolecules based on a framework of alternating B-N or B-P atoms. Evidence is also provided for Group 13 hydrides acting as poisons towards heterogeneous dehydrocoupling catalysts.