Neutral diborabenzenes – highly electron-rich systems for classical arene-type reactivity, bond activation, and catalysis

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Holger Braunschweig
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 452730967

Embedding boron atoms into aromatic pi systems has not only been an integral part of the history of aromaticity, but also provided access to numerous valuable applications in materials science and catalysis. Our research group recently developed experimental access to unknown neutral 1,4-diborabenzenes and unprecedented 9,10-diboraanthracenes with open-shell singlet ground states. These molecules are extremely electron-rich bora-pi-aromatics with outstanding pi donor capabilities, which permitted a number of interesting preliminary results including uncommon pi complexes of the d-block and f-block metals. This project targets these fascinating systems, their elaboration, and the full exploitation of their very promising reactivity in a number of different directions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants