Aromatic Borataheterocycles: Surrogates for Cyclopentadienyl in Transition-Metal Complexes

Negishi Cross-Coupling Is Compatible with a Reactive B-Cl Bond: Development of a Versatile Late-Stage Functionalization of 1,2-Azaborines and Its Application to the Synthesis of New BN Isosteres of Naphthalene and Indenyl

The compatibility of the Negishi cross-coupling reaction with the versatile B-Cl functionality has been demonstrated in the context of late-stage functionalization of 1,2-azaborines. Alkyl-, aryl-, and alkenylzinc reagents have been utilized for the functionalization of the triply orthogonal precursor 3-bromo-1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2-chloro-1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine (2) to furnish new 2,3-substituted monocyclic 1,2-azaborines. This methodology has enabled the synthesis of previously elusive BN-naphthalene and BN-indenyl structures from a common intermediate.

1,3,2,5-Diazadiborinine featuring nucleophilic and electrophilic boron centres

The seminal discovery in 1865 by Kekulé that benzene nucleus exists with cyclic skeleton is considered to be the beginning of aromatic chemistry. Since then, a myriad of cyclic molecules displaying aromatic property have been synthesized. Meanwhile, borazine (B₃N₃H₆), despite the isostructural and isoelectronic relationships with benzene, exhibits little aromaticity. Herein, we report the synthesis of a 1,3,2,5-diazadiborinine (B₂C₂N₂R₆) derivative, a hybrid inorganic/organic benzene, and we present experimental and computational evidence for its aromaticity. In marked contrast to the reactivity of benzene, borazine, and even azaborinines previously reported, 1,3,2,5-diazadiborinine readily forms the adducts with methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and phenylacetylene without any catalysts. Moreover, 1,3,2,5-diazadiborine activates carbon dioxide giving rise to a bicycle[2,2,2] product, and the binding process was found to be reversible. These results, thus, demonstrate that 1,3,2,5-diazadiborinine features both nucleophilic and electrophilic boron centres, with a formal B(+I)/B(+III) mixed valence system, in the aromatic six-membered B₂C₂N₂ ring.

Boron atoms in aromatic heterocycles typically behave simply as electron pair acceptors. Here, the authors report an aromatic system containing both electrophilic and nucleophilic boron atoms, and demonstrate how this imparts frustrated Lewis pair type reactivity, including binding of carbon dioxide.

Synthesis, structure and properties of C3-symmetric heterosuperbenzene with three BN units

The parent skeleton of BN heterocoronene with three BN units and C3 symmetry was synthesized as a model compound of BN-doped graphene. Further investigation of this graphene-type molecule revealed the important role of BN doping in opening the bandgap and modulating the electronic properties.

Synthesis of 1,2-borazaronaphthalenes from imines by base-promoted borylation of C-H bond

A new route from benzylic imines permits the synthesis of 1,2-borazaronaphthalenes in good yields. The reaction involves formation of the enamidyl dibromoborane, which undergoes base-promoted borylation of the nearby aromatic C-H bond. Electrophilic attack of the boron species onto the benzylic arene is supported by the slow borylation of arenes substituted with electron-withdrawing groups. The resultant boron bromides can be easily substituted with lithium reagents to provide a range of products. The electronic properties of these 1,2-borazaronaphthalene derivatives have been investigated by UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy.

4a,8a-Azaboranaphthalene-4-yl phosphine ligands: synthesis and electronic modulation in Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions

Design, synthesis and characterization of new BN-aromatic phosphine ligands are presented, demonstrating moderate catalytic activity in Suzuki reactions of C–Cl bond.

Rational design of organoboron heteroarene derivatives as luminescent and charge transport materials for organic light-emitting diodes

A series of organoboron heteroarene derivatives have been designed as luminescent and charge transport materials for OLEDs application.

BN heterosuperbenzenes: synthesis and properties

Replacement of C=C unit with its isoelectronic B-N unit in aromatics provides a new class of molecules with appealing properties, which have attracted great attention recently. In this Concept, we focus on BN-substituted polycyclic aromatics with fused structures, and review their synthesis, photophysical, and redox properties, as well as their applications in organic electronics. We also present challenging synthetic targets, large BN- substituted polycyclic aromatics, such as regioregular BN heterosuperbenzenes, which can be viewed as BN-doped nanographenes. Finally, we propose an atomically precise bottom-up synthesis of structurally well-defined BN-doped graphenes.

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of 4a,8a-azaboranaphthalene

A concise and effective three-step synthesis of 4a,8a-azaboranaphthalene (ABN) has been developed in gram scale. Electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions of ABN provide excellent functional-group-tolerant cross-coupling partners in various Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions (e.g., Sonogashira, Suzuki-Miyaura, or Heck reaction). Photophysical, electrochemical, and DFT calculations all suggest a narrowed HOMO-LUMO gap with extended π-conjugation characters in the cross-coupled molecules. The ABN moiety as a new fluorophore has a distinct and selective fluorescence response toward Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions, demonstrating great potential for the ABN structural motif in fluorescent chemosensors.

Reduction of C,N-chelated chloroborane: straightforward formation of the unprecedented 1H-2,1-benzazaborolyl potassium salt

Reduction of C,N-chelated chloroborane [2-(CH=NtBu)C6H4]BPhCl () with the potassium metal afforded (3,3')-bis(1-Ph-2-tBu-1H-2,1-benzazaborole) (2). Compound 2 is formed via C-C reductive coupling reaction. Subsequent reduction of 2 with two equivalents of the potassium metal produced orange crystals of 1Ph-2tBu-1H-2,1-benzazaborolyl (Bab) potassium salt K(THF)(Bab) (3). Compound 3 is able to react with simple electrophiles (MeI or Me3SiCl) resulting in the formation of substituted 1H-2,1-benzazaboroles.

Protecting group-free synthesis of 1,2-azaborines: a simple approach to the construction of BN-benzenoids

The protecting group-free synthesis of a versatile 1,2-azaborine synthon 5 is described. Previously inaccessible 1,2-azaborine derivatives, including the BN isostere of phenyl phenylacetate and BN1 triphenylmethane were prepared from 5 and characterized. The structural investigation of BN phenyl phenylacetate revealed the presence of a unique NH-carbonyl hydrogen bond that is not present in the corresponding carbonaceous analogue. The methyne CH in BN triphenylmethane was found to be less acidic than the corresponding proton in triphenylmethane. The gram-quantity synthesis of the parent 1,2-azaborine 4 was demonstrated, which enabled the characterization of its boiling point, density, refractive index, and its polarity on the ET(30) scale.

BN/CC isosteric compounds as enzyme inhibitors: N- and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine inhibit ethylbenzene hydroxylation as nonconvertible substrate analogues

Good substrate gone bad! BN/CC isosterism of ethylbenzene leads to N-ethyl-1,2-azaborine and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine. In contrast to ethylbenzene, which is the substrate for ethylbenzene dehydrogenase (EbDH), N-ethyl-1,2-azaborine (see scheme; Fc=Ferricenium tetrafluoroborate) and B-ethyl-1,2-azaborine are strong inhibitors of EbDH. Thus, the changes provided by BN/CC isosterism can lead to new biochemical reactivity.

UV-photoelectron spectroscopy of 1,2- and 1,3-azaborines: a combined experimental and computational electronic structure analysis

We present a comprehensive electronic structure analysis of structurally simple BN heterocycles using a combined UV-photoelectron spectroscopy (UV-PES)/computational chemistry approach. Gas-phase He I photoelectron spectra of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine 1, N-Me-1,2-BN-toluene 2, and N-Me-1,3-BN-toluene 3 have been recorded, assessed by density functional theory calculations, and compared with their corresponding carbonaceous analogues benzene and toluene. The first ionization energies of these BN heterocycles are in the order N-Me-1,3-BN-toluene 3 (8.0 eV) < N-Me-1,2-BN-toluene 2 (8.45 eV) < 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine 1 (8.6 eV) < toluene (8.83 eV) < benzene (9.25 eV). The computationally determined molecular dipole moments are in the order 3 (4.577 D) > 2 (2.209 D) > 1 (2.154 D) > toluene (0.349 D) > benzene (0 D) and are consistent with experimental observations. The λ(max) in the UV-vis absorption spectra are in the order 3 (297 nm) > 2 (278 nm) > 1 (269 nm) > toluene (262 nm) > benzene (255 nm). We also establish that the measured anodic peak potentials and electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reactivity of BN heterocycles 1-3 are consistent with the electronic structure description determined by the combined UV-PES/computational chemistry approach.

Synthesis of BN-fused polycyclic aromatics via tandem intramolecular electrophilic arene borylation

A tandem intramolecular electrophilic arene borylation reaction has been developed for the synthesis of BN-fused polycyclic aromatic compounds such as 4b-aza-12b-boradibenzo[g,p]chrysene (A) and 8b,11b-diaza-19b,22b-diborahexabenzo[a,c,fg,j,l,op]tetracene. These compounds adopt a twisted conformation, which results in a tight and offset face-to-face stacking array in the solid state. Time-resolved microwave conductivity measurements prove that the intrinsic hole mobility of A is comparable to that of rubrene, one of the most commonly used organic semiconductors, indicating that BN-substituted PAHs are potential candidates for organic electronic materials.