Boryl-functionalized σ-alkynyl and vinylidene rhodium complexes: synthesis and electronic properties.

The synthesis, reactivity, and properties of boryl-functionalized σ-alkynyl and vinylidene rhodium complexes such as trans-[RhCl(=C=CHBMes2)(PiPr3)2] and trans-[Rh(C≡CBMes2)(IMe)(PiPr3)2] are reported. An equilibrium was found to exist between rhodium vinylidene complexes and the corresponding hydrido σ-alkynyl complexes in solution. The complex trans-[Rh(C≡CBMes2)(IMe)(PiPr3)2] (IMe=1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) was found to exhibit solvatochromism and can be quasireversibly oxidized and reduced electrochemically. Density functional calculations were performed to determine the reaction mechanism and to help rationalize the photophysical properties of trans-[Rh(C≡CBMes2)(IMe)(PiPr3)2].

Diverse reactions of N-heterocyclic carbenes with an alkynylborane and isolation of a reactive zwitterionic borataallene.

Ethynyldimesitylborane (1) is synthesised via salt elimination and its reactivity towards NHCs is studied. Depending on their size, NHCs attack either at the boron atom or at the ß-alkynyl carbon atom. Steric control over the reaction was probed by reactions with N-heterocyclic carbenes yielding a carbene-borane adduct (2), a 1-boraindane (3), and the first structurally characterised borataallene (4).

Electronic and structural effects of stepwise borylation and quaternization on borirene aromaticity.

Room-temperature photolysis of the aminoboryl complex [(OC)(5)Cr═B═N(SiMe(3))(2)] in the presence of a series of mono- or bis(boryl) alkynes bis{bis(dimethylamino)boryl}ethyne, 1-phenyl-2-bis(dimethylamino)borylethyne, and 1-trimethylsilyl-2-bis(dimethylamino)borylethyne led to the isolation of hitherto unknown borylborirenes in resonable yields, that is, [(RC═CR')(µ-BN(SiMe(3))(2))] (7, R = B(NMe(2))(2), R' = Ph; 8, R = R' = B(NMe(2))(2); 9, R = B(NMe(2))(2), R' = SiMe(3)). The borirenes were isolated and spectroscopically characterized by multinuclear NMR, IR, and UV/vis spectroscopy, crystallography, and elemental analysis. Reactivity studies of the borirenes demonstrated their behavior toward different Lewis bases. The isolated adducts and the parent borirenes were compared to 1,3-mesityl-2-phenylborirene and its adducts. To gain insight into the electronic structure and to evaluate the influence of the exocyclic groups, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were carried out.

Unsupported boron-carbon σ-coordination to platinum as an isolable snapshot of σ-bond activation.

σ-Complexes of transition metals-key intermediates in metal-mediated bond activation and homogeneous catalysis-have traditionally been isolable only when chelating or when one of the participating atoms is hydrogen. Here, by treating the Lewis-basic transition metal complex [Pt(PEt(3))(4)] with an electron-poor borirene, we isolate a complex with an unsupported borirene ligand bound, not through the unsaturated C=C bond, but exclusively via a B-C single bond. Using NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and density functional theory calculations, we show, herein, that coordination of the borirene ligand is based on electron donation from the B-C σ bond to the metal, aided by a strong Pt-to-B dative interaction. The complex is the first isolable non-agostic σ-complex featuring two p-block elements and has broad implications as a model for the metal-mediated activation of strong p-block-p-block σ-bonds.

Bonding in a borylene complex investigated by photoionization and dissociative photoionization.

The borylene complex [(OC)(5)Cr=B=N(SiMe(3))(2)] has been investigated by using threshold photoelectron-photoion coincidence spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation. The ionization energy of the parent complex and the 0 K appearance energies of the sequential CO loss channels have been determined. The derived bond-dissociation energies are used to discuss bonding and energetics in this compound.

V-shaped 4,6-bis(arylvinyl)pyrimidine oligomers: synthesis and optical properties.

A series of V-shaped 4,6-bis(arylvinyl)pyrimidines have been efficiently prepared by aldol condensation between 4,6-dimethylpyrimidine and the appropriate aromatic aldehyde. The methodology also proved successful when dendritic first generation poly(phenylenevinylene) aldehydes were used. Moreover, asymmetrically functionalized molecules were also obtained by the stepwise incorporation of arms in a controlled manner. The optical absorption and emission properties of these systems were studied in different solvents and media. The materials display strong emission solvatochromism that is reflected by a large red shift in their fluorescence emission maxima on increasing the solvent polarity. This change is accompanied by a successive decrease in fluorescence intensity. This behavior suggests a highly polar emitting state, which is characteristic of compounds that undergo an internal charge transfer upon excitation. The abilities of these molecules to function as colorimetric and luminescence pH sensors were demonstrated with dramatic color changes and luminescence switching upon the introduction of acid.