ABSTRACT
The synthesis of the new vicinal frustrated Lewis pair 5 containing (C6F5)2P-Lewis base and (C6F5)BH-Lewis acid functionality is described. It forms a unique cyclotrimer (5)3 which was structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography and high-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The relevant NMR Hamiltonian parameters ((11)B and (31)P chemical shielding tensors, (11)B quadrupolar coupling tensors, and (31)P-(11)B spin-spin coupling constants) indicate significant intramolecular covalent BP interactions, consistent with results from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. In addition, the (11)B/(31)P and (31)P/(31)P three-spin geometries are accurately reproduced by suitable high-resolution hetero- and homonuclear dipolar NMR experiments. As predicted from the bonding character portrayed by the solid-state NMR results, the cyclotrimer (5)3 possesses only moderate catalytic activity. However, it undergoes an addition reaction with pyridine and hydroboration reactions with benzaldehyde and tert-butylacetylene. The products of the hydroboration reactions form stable adducts with pyridine.
ABSTRACT
The vicinal frustrated P/B Lewis pair (FLP) Mes(2)PCH(2)CH(2)B(C(6)F(5))(2) reacts with 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) by C(6)F(5)vs. H exchange at boron to give the new [B]-H functionalized FLP Mes(2)PCH(2)CH(2)B(H)(C(6)F(5)) (4) and 9-C(6)F(5)-BBN. The latter was characterized as an isonitrile adduct by X-ray diffraction. The new FLP 4 forms an adduct with pyridine and it undergoes clean hydroboration reactions with 1-pentyne or added styrene or dimesitylvinylphosphane. The products formed stable adducts with pyridine; two such examples were also characterized by X-ray crystal structure analysis. A similar alkyl vs. hydrogen exchange was observed upon treatment of an Al/N based Lewis pair, iBu(2)Al-(Me(3)Si)C=C(H)-N(CH(2)CH(2))(2)NMe (14), with 9-BBN.
