An ab initio valence bond (VB) calculation of the π delocalization energy in borazine, B3N3H6

Synthesis and Reactions of Borazines

Given the wide array of current applications of borazine-based materials, synthetic access to these compounds is of importance. This review summarizes the many ways of preparing borazines and its carbo-substituted analogues. In addition, the functionalization of borazines is covered. The synthesis of molecules incorporating more than one borazine units as well as aspects of unsymmetrically substituted borazines are not included. The literature has been covered comprehensively until the end of 2020.

1 Introduction: Structure and Properties of Borazine

2 Synthesis of Parent Borazine

3 Synthesis of N-Substituted Borazines

4 Synthesis of B-Halo/B-Halo-N-Substituted Borazines

5 Synthesis of B-Substituted Borazines

6 Synthesis of Polycyclic Borazines Containing One Borazine Ring

7 Modifications or Hydrolysis of the Borazine Ring

8 Borazine Metal Complexes

9 Outlook and Conclusion

Theoretical study of the effects of substituents (F, Cl, Br, CH3, and CN) on the aromaticity of borazine

This paper presents a theoretical study of the effects of substituents (F, Cl, Br, CH₃, and CN) on the aromaticity of borazine (B₃N₃H₆), using density functional theory (DFT) and the Hartree-Fock (HF) method. The calculations to optimize the geometries, structural properties, and vibrational frequencies were performed using the same 6-311G(d,p) and 6-311++G(d,p) basis sets, comparing the methods with experimental results. In the analysis of the NICS_ZZ values, it was found that that replacing the hydrogen atoms by halogen atoms (F, Cl, and Br) and CH₃ reduced the aromaticity of the borazine molecule, while use of the CN group resulted in NICS_ZZ values (0.9-2.0 Å) very close to those of borazine, presenting the following order of increasing aromaticity: B₃N₃H₃-(Br)₃ < B₃N₃H₃-(Cl)₃ < B₃N₃H₃-(F)₃ < B₃N₃H₃-(CH₃)₃ < B₃N₃H₆ ~ B₃N₃H₃-(CN)₃. All the spectra of the compounds showed only the presence of transition peaks distant from the UV region, reflecting the large energy difference between the HOMO and LUMO orbitals. After the substitution of the borazine ring, all the compounds presented an intensification of the spectrum, with a shift of the maximum absorbance toward red, indicative of a bathochromic effect. There was a direct inverse relation between the energy gap and the maximum wavelength of the compounds.

On the role of heteroatoms in aromatic rings. Insights from 10π main group elements heterorings [(EH)2S2N4]q(E = C, P, B, Si, Al and q = 0, −2)

Heteroatoms with increasing electronegativity increased the aromatic behavior in a representative 10π-electron [C₈H₈]²⁻organic ring.

Four (2,2′-bipyridyl)(ferrocenyl)boronium derivatives

Crystal structures are reported for four (2,2′-bipyridyl)(ferrocenyl)boronium derivatives, namely (2,2′-bipyridyl)(ethenyl)(ferrocenyl)boronium hexafluoridophosphate, [Fe(C5H5)(C17H15BN2)]PF6, (Ib), (2,2′-bipyridyl)(tert-butylamino)(ferrocenyl)boronium bromide, [Fe(C5H5)(C19H22BN3)]Br, (IIa), (2,2′-bipyridyl)(ferrocenyl)(4-methoxyphenylamino)boronium hexafluoridophosphate acetonitrile hemisolvate, [Fe(C5H5)(C22H20BN3O)]PF6·0.5CH3CN, (IIIb), and 1,1′-bis[(2,2′-bipyridyl)(cyanomethyl)boronium]ferrocene bis(hexafluoridophosphate), [Fe(C17H14BN3)2](PF6)2, (IVb). The asymmetric unit of (IIIb) contains two independent cations with very similar conformations. The B atom has a distorted tetrahedral coordination in all four structures. The cyclopentadienyl rings of (Ib), (IIa) and (IIIb) are approximately eclipsed, while a bisecting conformation is found for (IVb). The N—H groups of (IIa) and (IIIb) are shielded by the ferrocenyl andtert-butyl or phenyl groups and are therefore not involved in hydrogen bonding. The B—N(amine) bond lengths are shortened by delocalization of π-electrons. In the cations with an amine substituent at boron, the B—N(bipyridyl) bonds are 0.035 (3) Å longer than in the cations with a methylene C atom bonded to boron. A similar lengthening of the B—N(bipyridyl) bonds is found in a survey of related cations with an oxy group attached to the B atom.

The linear response kernel of conceptual DFT as a measure of aromaticity

We continue a series of papers in which the chemical importance of the linear response kernel χ(r,r') of conceptual DFT is investigated. In previous contributions (J. Chem. Theory Comput. 2010, 6, 3671; J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2010, 1, 1228; Chem. Phys. Lett. 2010, 498, 192), two computational methodologies were presented and it was observed that the linear response kernel could serve as a measure of electron delocalisation, discerning inductive, resonance and hyperconjugation effects. This study takes the analysis one step further, linking the linear response kernel to the concept of aromaticity. Based on a detailed analysis of a series of organic and inorganic (poly)cyclic molecules, we show that the atom-condensed linear response kernel discriminates between aromatic and non-aromatic systems. Moreover, a new quantitative measure of aromaticity, termed the para linear response (PLR) index, is introduced. Its definition was inspired by the recent work published around the para delocalisation index (PDI). Both indices are shown to correlate very well, which emphasises the linear response kernel's value in the theoretical description of aromaticity.

SPIN DENSITY OF SPIN-FREE VALENCE BOND WAVE FUNCTIONS AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN VB2000

The expressions for computing the spin density of spin-free valence bond wave functions are derived based on the bonded tableaux approach. The new expressions, although similar to the original forms given by Cooper and McWeeny in the 1960s, are simpler and thus easier for coding. The new formulation was implemented in VB2000, an ab initio valence bond program based on algebrant algorithm and group function theory. The spin density calculation for multi-group VB wave functions is also briefly discussed. As examples of applications, the spin densities of allyl radical and diazide anion [Formula: see text] were computed at different VB levels.

An ab initio study of 15N-11B spin-spin coupling constants for borazine and selected derivatives

Ab initio equation-of-motion coupled-cluster singles and doubles (EOM-CCSD) calculations have been performed to investigate substituent effects on coupling constants for borazine and selected substituted borazines. For molecules in which F atoms are not bonded to adjacent atoms in the ring, F substitution increases the one-bond (11)B-(15)N coupling constants involving the atom at which substitution occurs but leaves the remaining one-bond B-N coupling constants essentially unchanged. For these molecules, the magnitudes of one-bond B-N coupling constants are only slightly dependent on the number of F atoms present. Fluorine substitution at adjacent B and N atoms in the borazine ring further increases the one-bond B-N coupling constant involving the substituted atoms and has the same effect on the other one-bond coupling constants as observed for corresponding molecules in which substitution occurs at alternate sites. In contrast to the effect of F substitution, substitution of Li at either N or B decreases one-bond B-N coupling constants relative to borazine. The effects of F and Li substitution on one-bond B-N coupling constants for borazine are similar to F and Li substitution effects on (13)C-(13)C coupling constants for benzene.

Valence bond theory for chemical dynamics

This essay provides a perspective on several issues in valence bond theory: the physical significance of semilocal bonding orbitals, the capability of valence bond concepts to explain systems with multireferences character, the use of valence bond theory to provide analytical representations of potential energy surfaces for chemical dynamics by the method of semiempirical valence bond potential energy surfaces (an early example of specific reaction parameters), by multiconfiguration molecular mechanics, by the combined valence bond-molecular mechanics method, and by the use of valence bond states as coupled diabatic states for describing electronically nonadiabatic processes (photochemistry). The essay includes both ab initio and semiempirical approaches.