Hybrid Inorganic-Organic Cross-Metathesis between Diborenes and Acetylene.

The ruthenium-catalyzed cross-metathesis of alkenes and alkynes, which splits the alkene C═C double bond and couples one-half to each carbon of the alkyne C≡C triple bond, is one of the most efficient tools for the synthesis of 1,3-dienes, with wide-ranging applications, including pharmaceutical and polymer chemistry. In contrast, inorganic main-group metathesis reactions are restricted to a handful of examples of heavier p-block multiple bonds (P═P, Ge═Ge, and E≡E, E = Ge, Sn, Pb). We now report the first examples of thermally induced, transition-metal-free cross-metathesis between an organic alkyne and inorganic cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene (CAAC)-stabilized B═B double bonds, which yield fully planar, π-delocalized 1,8-diaza-3,6-diboraoctatetraenes. Density functional theory studies show that these compounds have an open-shell singlet biradical ground state with a thermally accessible closed-shell state. In-depth computational mechanistic analyses show that they are formed via a biradical cycloaddition-cycloreversion mechanism. Finally, unlike their organic counterparts, these B,N-analogues of octatetraene can undergo two-electron chemical reduction to form diamagnetic dianions.

Boranediyl- and Diborane(4)-1,2-diyl-Bridged Platinum A-Frame Complexes.

Diplatinum A-frame complexes with a bridging (di)boron unit in the apex position were synthesized in a single step by the double oxidative addition of dihalo(di)borane precursors at a bis(diphosphine)-bridged Pt0 2 complex. While structurally analogous to well-known µ-borylene complexes, in which delocalized dative three-center-two-electron M-B-M bonding prevails, theoretical investigations into the nature of Pt-B bonding in these A-frame complexes show them to be rare dimetalla(di)boranes displaying two electron-sharing Pt-B σ-bonds. This is experimentally reflected in the low kinetic stability of these compounds, which are prone to loss of the (di)boron bridgehead unit.

Stable Lewis Base Adducts of Tetrahalodiboranes: Synthetic Methods and Structural Diversity.

A series of 22 new bis(phosphine), bis(carbene), and bis(isonitrile) tetrahalodiborane adducts has been synthesized, either by direct adduct formation with highly sensitive B2 X4 precursors (X=Cl, Br, I) or by ligand exchange at stable B2 X4 (SMe2 )2 precursors (X=Cl, Br) with labile dimethylsulfide ligands. The isolated compounds have been fully characterized using NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and, for 20 of these compounds, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, revealing an unexpected variation in the bonding motifs. In addition to the classical B2 X4 L2 diborane(4) bis-adducts, certain more sterically demanding carbene ligands induce a halide displacement which led to the first halide-bridged monocationic diboron species, [B2 X3 L2 ]A (A=BCl4 , Br, I). Furthermore, low-temperature 1:1 reactions of B2 Cl4 with sterically demanding N-heterocyclic carbenes led to the formation of kinetically unstable mono-adducts, one of which was structurally characterized. A comparison of the NMR spectra and structural data of new and literature-known bis-adducts shows several trends pertaining to the nature of the halides and the stereoelectronic properties of the Lewis bases employed.

Reactivity Enhancement of a Zerovalent Diboron Compound by Desymmetrization.

The desymmetrization of the cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene-supported diboracumulene B2(cAACMe)2 (cAACMe = 1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) by monoadduct formation with IMeMe (1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) yields the zerovalent sp-sp2 diboron compound B2(cAACMe)2(IMeMe), which provides a versatile platform for the synthesis of novel symmetrical and unsymmetrical zerovalent sp2-sp2 diboron compounds by adduct formation with IMeMe and CO, respectively. Furthermore, B2(cAACMe)2(IMeMe) displays enhanced reactivity compared to its symmetrical precursor, undergoing spontaneous intramolecular C-H activation and facile twofold hydrogenation, the latter resulting in B-B bond cleavage and the formation of the mixed-base parent borylene (cAACMe)(IMeMe)BH.

Unravelling the Dramatic Electrostructural Differences Between N-Heterocyclic Carbene- and Cyclic (Alkyl)(amino)carbene-Stabilized Low-Valent Main Group Species.

Cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (CAACs) and N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are widely used as stabilizing ligands in transition metal and main group element chemistry. Variations in their stabilizing properties have been cursorily explained in the literature by the greater π-donating and σ-accepting properties of CAACs relative to NHCs and their differing steric demands; however, a more precise understanding, in particular a disentanglement of steric and electronic effects, is lacking. The recently reported compounds (E)(L)BB(L)(E) (L = NHC (I)/CAAC (II) and E = SPh) present a unique opportunity to investigate the differences between NHC and CAAC donors, as both forms are stable but differ considerably in their geometrical and electronic properties. The NHC systems possess a singlet ground state with a planar central SBBS unit, while their CAAC counterparts show a triplet ground state with a twisted SBBS unit. Steric effects were found to be important in this case; however, it remained unclear how the different forms of twisting in I and II depend on the interplay of steric and electronic effects. In the present work we disentangle both effects. Our investigations explain all of these effects by MO considerations and show that for this kind of system the size of the singlet-triplet gaps are the key determinants of the differences. The different sizes of the S-T gaps result from variations in the antibonding effects within the highest occupied (HOMOs) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals (LUMOs). Our explanation seems to contradict the general scientific consensus about variations in the HOMO and LUMO of these two classes of cyclic carbenes; however, comparisons to the Kekulé biradicaloids recently presented by Bertrand and co-workers indicate the generality of our approach.

Half-Sandwich Complexes of an Extremely Electron-Donating, Redox-Active η6-Diborabenzene Ligand.

The heteroarene 1,4-bis(CAAC)-1,4-diborabenzene (1; CAAC = cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene) reacts with [(MeCN)3M(CO)3] (M = Cr, Mo, W) to yield half-sandwich complexes of the form [(η6-diborabenzene)M(CO)3] (M = Cr (2), Mo (3), W (4)). Investigation of the new complexes with a combination of X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic methods and DFT calculations shows that ligand 1 is a remarkably strong electron donor. In particular, [(η6-arene)M(CO)3] complexes of this ligand display the lowest CO stretching frequencies yet observed for this class of complex. Cyclic voltammetry on complexes 2-4 revealed one reversible oxidation and two reversible reduction events in each case, with no evidence of ring-slippage of the arene to the η4 binding mode. Treatment of 4 with lithium metal in THF led to identification of the paramagnetic complex [(1)W(CO)3]Li·2THF (5). Compound 1 can also be reduced in the absence of a transition metal to its dianion 12-, which possesses a quinoid-type structure.

Reactivity of Tetrahalo- and Difluorodiboranes(4) toward Lewis Basic Platinum(0): Bis(boryl), Borylborato, and Doubly Boryl-Bridged Platinum Complexes.

The reaction of the tetrahalodiboranes(4) B2F4, B2Cl4, and B2Br4 with a Lewis basic platinum(0) complex led to the isolation of the cis-bis(difluoroboryl) complex cis-[(Cy3P)2Pt(BF2)2] (1) and the novel borylborato complexes trans-[(Cy3P)2Pt{B(X)-BX3}] (2, X = Cl; 3, X = Br), respectively. The trans influence of the borylborato group was found to be one of the strongest ever observed experimentally. Furthermore, the reactivity of little-explored diaryldifluorodiboranes(4) F2B-BMes2 and the new derivative F2B-BAn2 (An = 9-anthryl) toward a range of platinum(0) complexes was investigated. Reactions with relatively nonbulky platinum(0) complexes led to the formation of unsymmetrical cis-bis(boryl) complexes cis-[(R3P)2Pt(BF2)(BMes2)] (6, R = Me; 7, R = Et) as well as the first example of a fourfold-unsymmetrical bis(boryl) complex, [(Me3P)(Cy3P)Pt(BF2)(BMes2)] (12). The use of a more bulky Pt complex provided access to the unprecedented dinuclear bis(boryl) complexes [{( iPr3P)Pt}2(µ-BF2)(µ-BAr2)] (8, Ar = Mes; 9, Ar = An), which feature two different µ2-bridging boryl ligands.

CO2 Binding and Splitting by Boron-Boron Multiple Bonds.

The room-temperature, ambient-pressure reactions of CO2 with two species containing boron-boron multiple bonds led to the incorporation of either one or two CO2 molecules. The structural characterization of a thermally unstable intermediate in one case indicates that an initial [2+2] cycloaddition is the key step in the reaction mechanism.

Isolation and Characterization of Crystalline, Neutral Diborane(4) Radicals.

Diaryldihalodiboranes(4) were reacted with bis(amidinato)- and bis(guanidinato)silylenes to generate the first neutral diborane-centered radicals. These formally non-aromatic 5π electron systems are stable in the solid state as well as in solution and were characterized by solid-state structure determination, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and EPR spectroscopy. The reactivity of one of these radicals with the oxidant 1,4-benzoquinone led to ring-opening and B-O bond formation.

Synthesis and Reduction of Sterically Encumbered Mesoionic Carbene-Stabilized Aryldihaloboranes.

Sterically hindered, in situ generated 1,3,4-substituted 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene mesoionic carbenes (MICs) were employed to stabilize a number of aryl- and heteroaryldihaloboranes, as well as the first MIC-supported diborane. Reduction of borane adducts of the 1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3-methyl-4-tert-butyl-1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene ligand with KC8 in non-coordinating solvents led to intramolecular C-H- and, C-C-activation at an isopropyl residue of the supporting ligand. DFT calculations showed that each of these activation reactions proceeds via a different isomer of a borylene intermediate.

Reactivity of a Dihydrodiborene with CO: Coordination, Insertion, Cleavage, and Spontaneous Formation of a Cyclic Alkyne.

Under a CO atmosphere, the dihydrodiborene [(cAAC)HB=BH(cAAC)] underwent coordination of CO concomitant with reversible hydrogen migration from boron to the carbene carbon atom, as well as reversible CO insertion into the B=B bond. Heating the CO adduct resulted in two unusual cAAC ring-expansion products, one presenting a B=C bond to a six-membered 1,2-azaborinane-3-ylidene, the other an unprecedented nine-membered cyclic alkyne resulting from reductive cleavage of CO and spontaneous formation of a C≡C bond.

Engineering a Small HOMO-LUMO Gap and Intramolecular C-H Borylation by Diborene/Anthracene Orbital Intercalation.

The diborene 1 was synthesized by reduction of a mixture of 1,2-di-9-anthryl-1,2-dibromodiborane(4) (6) and trimethylphosphine with potassium graphite. The X-ray structure of 1 shows the two anthryl rings to be parallel and their π(C14 ) systems perpendicular to the diborene π(B=B) system. This twisted conformation allows for intercalation of the relatively high-lying π(B=B) orbital and the low-lying π* orbital of the anthryl moiety with no significant conjugation, resulting in a small HOMO-LUMO gap (HLG) and ultimately a C-H borylation of the anthryl unit. The HLG of 1 was estimated to be 1.57 eV from the onset of the long wavelength band in its UV/Vis absorption spectrum (THF, λonset =788 nm). The oxidation of 1 with elemental selenium afforded diboraselenirane 8 in quantitative yield. By oxidative abstraction of one phosphine ligand by another equivalent of elemental selenium, the B-B and C1 -H bonds of 8 were cleaved to give the cyclic 1,9-diborylanthracene 9.

Dynamic, Reversible Oxidative Addition of Highly Polar Bonds to a Transition Metal.

The combination of Pt0 complexes and indium trihalides leads to compounds that form equilibria in solution between their In-X oxidative addition (OA) products (PtII indyl complexes) and their metal-only Lewis pair (MOLP) isomers (LnPt→InX3). The position of the equilibria can be altered reversibly by changing the solvent, while the equilibria can be reversibly and irreversibly driven toward the MOLP products by addition of further donor ligands. The results mark the first observation of an equilibrium between MOLP and OA isomers, as well as the most polar bond ever observed to undergo reversible oxidative addition to a metal complex. In addition, we present the first structural characterization of MOLP and oxidative addition isomers of the same compound. The relative energies of the MOLP and OA isomers were calculated by DFT methods, and the possibility of solvent-mediated isomerization is discussed.

Uncatalyzed Hydrogenation of First-Row Main Group Multiple Bonds.

Room temperature hydrogenation of an SIDep-stabilized diboryne (SIDep=1,3-bis(diethylphenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene) and a cAAC-supported diboracumulene (cAAC=1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) provided the first selective route to the corresponding 1,2-dihydrodiborenes. DFT calculations showed an overall exothermic (ΔG=19.4 kcal mol-1 ) two-step asynchronous H2 addition mechanism proceeding via a bridging hydride.

Neutral Diboron Analogues of Archetypal Aromatic Species by Spontaneous Cycloaddition.

Among the numerous routes organic chemists have developed to synthesize benzene derivatives and heteroaromatic compounds, transition-metal-catalyzed cycloaddition reactions are the most elegant. In contrast, cycloaddition reactions of heavier alkene and alkyne analogues, though limited in scope, proceed uncatalyzed. In this work we present the first spontaneous cycloaddition reactions of lighter alkene and alkyne analogues. Selective addition of unactivated alkynes to boron-boron multiple bonds under ambient conditions yielded diborocarbon equivalents of simple aromatic hydrocarbons, including the first neutral 6 π-aromatic diborabenzene compound, a 2 π-aromatic triplet biradical 1,3-diborete, and a phosphine-stabilized 2 π-homoaromatic 1,3-dihydro-1,3-diborete. DFT calculations suggest that all three compounds are aromatic and show frontier molecular orbitals matching those of the related aromatic hydrocarbons, C6 H6 and C4 H4 (2+) , and homoaromatic C4 H5 (+) .

Experimental assessment of the strengths of B-B triple bonds.

Diborynes, molecules containing homoatomic boron-boron triple bonds, have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy in order to determine the stretching frequencies of their central B≡B units as an experimental measure of homoatomic bond strengths. The observed frequencies between 1600 and 1750 cm(-1) were assigned on the basis of DFT modeling and the characteristic pattern produced by the isotopic distribution of boron. This frequency completes the series of known stretches of homoatomic triple bonds, fitting into the trend established by the long-known stretching frequencies of C≡C and N≡N triple bonds in alkynes and dinitrogen, respectively. A quantitative analysis was carried out using the concept of relaxed force constants. The results support the classification of the diboryne as a true triple bond and speak to the similarities of molecules constructed from first-row elements of the p block. Also reported are the relaxed force constants of a recently reported diborabutatriene, which again fit into the trend established by the vibrational spectroscopy of organic cumulenes. As part of these studies, a new diboryne with decreased steric bulk was synthesized, and a computational study of the rotation of the stabilizing ligands indicated alkyne-like electronic isolation of the central B2 unit.

From an electron-rich bis(boraketenimine) to an electron-poor diborene.

The reaction of the bisboracumulene (CAAC)2 B2 (CAAC=1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) with excess tert-butylisocyanide resulted in complexation of the isocyanide at boron. Though this compound might be formally drawn with a lone pair on boron, these electrons are highly delocalized throughout a conjugated π-network consisting of the π-acidic CAAC and isocyanide ligands. Heating this compound to 110 °C liberated the organic periphery of both isocyanide ligands, yielding the first example of a dicyanodiborene. Cyclic voltammetry conducted on this diborene indicated the presence of reduction waves, making this compound unique among diborenes, which are otherwise highly reducing.

The Synthesis of B2(SIDip)2 and its Reactivity Between the Diboracumulenic and Diborynic Extremes.

A new compound with the formula L-B2-L wherein the stabilizing ligand (L) is 1,3-bis[diisopropylphenyl]-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene (SIDip) has been synthesized, isolated, and characterized. The π-acidity of the SIDip ligand, intermediate between the relatively non-acidic IDip (1,3-bis[diisopropylphenyl]imidazol-2-ylidene) ligand and the much more highly acidic CAAC (1-[2,6-diisopropylphenyl]-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) ligand, gives rise to a compound with spectroscopic, electrochemical, and structural properties between those of L-B2-L compounds stabilized by CAAC and IDip. Reactions of all three L-B2-L compounds with CO demonstrate the differences caused by their respective ligands, as the π-acidities of the CAAC and SIDip carbenes enabled the isolation of bis(boraketene) compounds (L(OC)B-B(CO)L), which could not be isolated from reactions with B2(IDip)2. However, only B2(IDip)2 and B2(SIDip)2 could be converted into bicyclic bis(boralactone) compounds.

Diborabutatriene: an electron-deficient cumulene.

The complexation of two equivalents of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) to tetrabromodiborane, followed by reduction with four equivalents of sodium naphthalide, led to the formation of the CAAC-stabilized linear diboracumulene (CAAC)2B2. The capacity of the CAAC ligand to facilitate B2 →CAAC donation of π-electron density resulted in important differences between this species and a previously reported complex featuring a B≡B triple bond stabilized by cyclic di(amino)carbenes, including a longer B-B bond and shorter B-C bonds. Frontier orbital analysis indicated sharing of valence electrons across the entire linear C-B-B-C unit in (CAAC)2B2, which is supported by natural population analysis and cyclic voltammetry.

Synthesis and characterisation of boranediyl- and diboranediyl-bridged diplatinum A-frame complexes.

A series of boranediyl-bridged diplatinum A-frame complexes, [Pt2X2(µ-BY)(µ-dmpm)2] (X = Cl, Br, I; Y = aryl, alkyl, amino, halo; dmpm = bis(dimethylphosphino)methane), were synthesised by the twofold oxidative addition of BX2Y to [Pt2(nbe)2(µ-dmpm)2] (nbe = norbornene) or to the paddlewheel complex [Pt2(µ-dmpm)3]. Similarly, the addition of B2X2(NMe2)2 (X = Cl, Br) to [Pt2(nbe)2(µ-dmpm)2] provided access to the diborane-1,2-diyl-bridged A-frame complexes [Pt2X2(µ-1,2-B2(NMe2)2)(µ-dmpm)2]. X-ray crystallographic studies of these (BY)n-bridged complexes show structural trends depending on the steric demands of Y and the nature of X. Analysis of higher-order 31P NMR satellites provided information on JP-Pt and JPt-Pt coupling constants, the latter correlating with the PtPt distance. All (di)boranediyl complexes also proved unstable towards (successive) loss of the bridging "BY" unit(s), resulting in the formation of [Pt2X2(µ-dmpm)2].