Reduction of Mono- and Diboranes(4)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Holger Braunschweig
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2012 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 221758282

Recent preliminary work has shown a handful of successful syntheses of boryl anions, diborenes and metal-free borylenes that offer much promise as general strategies towards these compounds. Among these are the use of organometallic species for stoichiometric reductions in homogeneous conditions, the use of new boron-substitution patterns and flexible bases for stabilisation of the boron centres, and the application of perhalogenated diboranes(4) for the preparation of boron-boron multiple bonding. These preparative approaches will be applied towards the synthesis of reduced boron species (boryl anions, diborenes and metal-free borylenes). In addition to the comprehensive characterisation of the target molecules, notably by ESR spectroscopy, cyclovoltammetry and guidance from DFT and TD-DFT calculations, we propose extensive reactivity studies of the target molecules. These reduced boron species will be utilised towards a number of synthetic goals, particularly for the synthesis of new boron-containing heterocycles. The suitability of synthesised compounds containing B-B multiple bonding as chromophores will be probed, as well as their use as synthons for electron-precise oligoborane species.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants