An official website of the United States government
Tris( ortho ‐carboranyl)borane: An Isolable, Halogen‐Free, Lewis Superacid
Abstract The synthesis of tris(ortho‐carboranyl)borane (BoCb3), a single site neutral Lewis superacid, in one pot from commercially available materials is achieved. The high fluoride ion affinity (FIA) confirms its classification as a Lewis superacid and the Gutmann‐Beckett method as well as adducts with Lewis bases indicate stronger Lewis acidity over the widely used fluorinated aryl boranes. The electron withdrawing effect ofortho‐carborane and lack of pi‐delocalization of the LUMO rationalize the unusually high Lewis acidity. Catalytic studies indicate that BoCb3is a superior catalyst for promoting C−F bond functionalization reactions than tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane [B(C6F5)3].
more »
« less
- Award ID(s):
- 1753025
- PAR ID:
- 10375818
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Volume:
- 61
- Issue:
- 46
- ISSN:
- 1433-7851
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
Abstract The Lewis superacid, bis(1‐methyl‐ortho‐carboranyl)borane, is rapidly accessed in two steps. It is a very effective hydroboration reagent capable of B−H addition to alkenes, alkynes, and cyclopropanes. To date, this is the first identified Lewis superacidic secondary borane and most reactive neutral hydroboration reagent.more » « less
-
We report the synthesis and characterization of homoleptic borane adducts of hexacyanoferrate( ii ). Borane coordination blueshifts d–d transitions and CN IR and Raman frequencies. Control over redox properties is established with respect to borane Lewis acidity, reflected in peak anodic potential shifts per borane of +250 mV for BPh 3 and +350 mV for B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 . Electron transfer from [Fe(CN-B(C 6 F 5 ) 3 ) 6 ] 4− to photogenerated [Ru(2,2′-bipyridine) 3 ] 3+ is very rapid, consistent with voltammetry data. Coordination by Lewis acids provides an avenue for selective modification of the electronic structures and electrochemical properties of cyanometalates.more » « less
-
Abstract While SbCl3is typically inert toward oxidation byortho‐quinones, we useo‐chloranil to show that the outcome of such reactions may be altered by the presence of a donor such as triphenylphosphine oxide, which readily traps the SbCl3(catCl) synthon (catCl = tetrachlorocatecholate) in the form of the corresponding adduct Ph3PO→SbCl3(catCl). The same reaction in the presence of a chloride salt affords the corresponding antimonate anion [Cl4Sb(catCl)]−. Computational studies indicate that the putative SbCl3(catCl) synthon has a higher chloride ion affinity than SbCl5, suggesting significant Lewis acidity. This property is further demonstrated by the use of the SbCl3/o‐chloranil system for both THF polymerization and a Friedel–Crafts‐type alkylation of benzene using 1‐fluorooctane. Finally, the reaction ofE‐stilbene witho‐chloranil in the presence of SbCl3affords the corresponding benzodioxene, suggesting that SbCl3may also operate as a redox‐active catalyst.more » « less
