Synthesis of an eight-membered Al2B2O4 – Ring with two aluminum atoms each in a spiro center

Lithium, Tin(II), and Zinc Amino-Boryloxy Complexes: Synthesis and Characterization

Analogous to the ubiquitous alkoxide ligand, metal boroxide and boryloxy complexes are an underexplored class of hard anionic O- ligand. A new series of amine-stabilized Li, Sn(II), and Zn boryloxy complexes, comprising electron-rich tetrahedral boron centers have been synthesized and characterized. All complexes have been characterized by one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), and DOSY NMR, which are consistent with the solid-state structures unambiguously determined via single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Electron-rich μ2- (Sn and Zn) and μ3- (Li) boryloxy binding modes are observed. Compounds 6-9 are the first complexes of this class, with the chelating bis- and tris-phenol ligands providing a scaffold that can be easily functionalized and provides access to the boronic acid pro-ligand, hence allowing facile direct synthesis of the resulting compounds. Computational quantum chemical studies suggest a significant enhancement of the π-donor ability of the amine-stabilized boryloxy ligand because of electron donation from the amine functionality into the p-orbital of the boron atom.

Synthesis and optical properties of N→Ga coordinated gallium boroxines

Reactions of the N,C,N-chelated organogallium amide LGa(NEt₂)₂ (1), where L is {2,6-(Me₂NCH₂)₂C₆H₃}^-, with organoboronic acids RB(OH)₂ yielded molecular gallium boroxines LGa(O₃B₂R₂) (2: R = OH, 3: R = Ph, 4: R = 4-MeO-C₆H₄, 5: R = 4-CHO-C₆H₄, 6: R = Fc), neutral analogues of gallaborates. The molecular structures revealed the presence of a six-membered central GaB₂O₃ ring. The film forming properties of 5 allowed the deposition of transparent thin films by a spin coating method. The thicknesses, refractive index, energy of the optical gap (Eoptg), activation energy of surface electrical conductivity (Esa) and pre-exponential factor (σ₀) of the thin layers of 5 were measured and they are close to those found for related oxygen glass. Finally, GBO 5 was also used as an additive to printing ink and a thin film of 5 was prepared by the gravure printing technique.

Applications of boroxide ligands in supporting small molecule activation by U(iii) and U(iv) complexes

The boroxide ligand [OBAr2]- (Ar = Mes, Trip) is shown to be able to support both UIII and UIV centres for the first time. The synthesis and structures of homoleptic and heteroleptic UIII and UIV complexes are reported. The UX3 complex with larger substituents, [U(OBTrip2)3]2, exhibits greater thermal stability compared to less encumbered [U(OBMes2)3]2 but reacts with a smaller range of the small molecules tested to date. Initial studies on their capacity to participate in small molecule chemistry show that dark purple [U(OBMes2)3]2 binds and/or reductively activates a variety of small molecules such as pyridine-oxide, triphenylphosphineoxide, sulfur, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. While [U(OBMes2)3]2 shows no reaction with CO or CO2, [U(OBTrip2)3]2 is oxidised by both, in the former case forming [U(OBTrip2)4], and in the latter case forming a small quantity of the structurally characterised μ-carbonate product [(μ-CO3){U(OBTrip2)3}2].

N→Sn-Coordinated Stannaoxidoborates Containing a SnB4O6 Unit

We report here the synthesis of new N→Sn-coordinated stannaoxidoborates H[LSnB4O6R4] {L = [2,6-(Me2NCH2)C6H3](-) and R = Ph (6), 4-Br-Ph (7), 3,5-(CF3)2-Ph (8), and 4-CHO-Ph (9)} containing a nonsymmetric SnB4O6 unit. Compounds 6-9 represent new derivatives of the pentaborates [B5O6R4](-) in which the central boron is substituted by a tin atom. Compounds 6-9 were characterized by means of elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and NMR spectroscopy and in the case of 6-8 also by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The structures of N→Sn-coordinated stannaoxidoborates 6-8 consist of a spirobicyclic arrangement, with two six-membered SnB2O3 rings at the tin atom providing the new stannaoxidoborate [LSnB4O6R4](-) motif, which is compensated for by the proton atom coordinated to the Me2N group of the ligand L. The linear and thermal properties of 6-9 were studied with the help of electronic absorption spectra and differential scanning calorimetry. In addition, the presence of the nonsymmetric stannaoxidoborate SnB4O6 unit in 6, 7, and 9 prompted us to investigate their second-order nonlinear-optical properties.

From Stiba- and Bismaheteroboroxines to N,C,N-Chelated Diorganoantimony(III) and Bismuth(III) Cations-An Unexpected Case of Aryl Group Migration

An unprecedented transfer of an aryl group from boron to Sb and Bi is observed in the reaction of heteroboroxines of general formula ArM[(OBR)2O] [where M = Sb, Bi; Ar = C6H3-2,6-(CH2NMe2)2; R = Ph, 4-CF3C6H4, 4-BrC6H4] with corresponding boronic acid RB(OH)2. Using this procedure, ion pairs [ArMR](+)[R4B5O6](-) were obtained [where M = Sb and R = Ph (4), 4-CF3C6H4 (5), 4-BrC6H4 (6); where M = Bi and R = Ph (7), 4-CF3C6H4 (8), 4-BrC6H4 (9)]. All compounds were characterized using elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and molecular structures of 4 and 7 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The central metal atoms in 4-9 were arylated by respective boronic acids, which represents, to the best of our knowledge, unprecedented reaction path in the chemistry of heavier group 15 elements. Investigation of the mechanism of this transformation indicated that Lewis pairs consisting of monomeric oxides ArMO and boroxine rings are probably key intermediates. In this regard, molecular structures of ArSbO[(4-CF3C6H4)3B3O3]·(4-CF3C6H4)B(OH)2 (10) and {ArSbO[(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)3B3O3]} (13) were established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and compound 13 was also fully characterized in solution by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The bonding in 13 was analyzed in detail by using density functional theory and natural bond order calculations and compared with known adduct ArSbOB(C6F5)3 (14) and hypothetical ArSbO monomer.

Synthesis of heteroboroxines with MB₂O₃ core (M = Sb, Bi, Sn)--an influence of the substitution of parent boronic acids

The synthesis and structure of stiba-, stanna- and bismaheteroboroxines of a general formula L(E)M[(OBR)2O] supported by a N,C,N-chelating ligand L [where L = C6H3-2,6-(CH2NMe2)2, M, E = Sb, lone pair or Sn, Ph or Bi, lone pair] is reported. The target compounds are prepared by straightforward one-step reactions between oxides (LMO)2 (M = Sb or Bi) or organotin(iv) carbonate L(Ph)Sn(CO3) with four or two molar equivalents of corresponding organoboronic acid. All compounds were characterized with the help of elemental analysis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and on several occasions the molecular structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The influence of both the substitution of the parent organoboronic acid and the central atom used on the feasibility of the condensation reaction was addressed. Furthermore, several heteroboroxines containing nitrogen donor functionality (i.e. NH2, NMe2, CN or 4-pyridyl) included in the boronic acid residue were synthesized and characterized with the aim to prepare boroxine-based covalent frameworks (through intermolecular N→B interactions) containing metal atoms in their structures. Although no such intermolecular bonding was detected in solution of these compounds, it was shown that the organotin(iv) heteroboroxine substituted by 4-pyridyl group forms an infinite polymeric chains via N→B interactions in the solid state. This polymer collapsed back to monomeric units upon dissolution.