Improving the Global Electrophilicity Index (GEI) as a Measure of Lewis Acidity

Dinitrogen Activation: A Novel Approach with P/B Intermolecular FLP

This study explores the reactivity of a new intermolecular P/B frustrated Lewis pair in the context of dinitrogen activation through a push-pull mechanism. The ab initio molecular dynamics model known as atom-centered density matrix propagation plays a pivotal role in elucidating the weakly associated encounter complex. In-depth analysis, mainly through intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations, supports a single-step mechanism. Notably, N2 activation is observed to proceed through a concerted mechanism, proving slightly endergonic in solvents like toluene and hexane. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations reveal that the N2 activation reaction becomes kinetically and thermodynamically favorable when it is subjected to a moderately oriented external electric field of 2.57 V nm-1 along the reaction axis. In addition, natural bonding orbital and extended transition state-natural orbitals for chemical valence analyses contribute to a more profound comprehension of the electron-transfer processes integral to the chemical reaction.

Structure-constraint induced increase in Lewis acidity of tris(ortho-carboranyl)borane and selective complexation with Bestmann ylides

The Lewis acidity of tris(ortho-carboranyl)borane has been slightly increased by mimicking the structural evolution from triarylborane to 9-aryl-9-borafluorene. The o-carborane-based analogue (C2B10H10)2B(C2B10H11), obtained via salt elimination between LiC2B10H11 and (C2B10H10)2BBr, has been fully characterized. Gutmann-Beckett and computational fluoride/hydride ion affinity (FIA/HIA) studies have confirmed the increase in Lewis acidity, which is attributable to structural constraint imposed by the CC-coupling between two carboranyl groups. Selective complexation of (C2B10H10)2B(C2B10H11) with Bestmann ylides R3PCCO (R = Ph, Cy) has been achieved, enabling further conversion into the zwitterionic phospholium salt through NHC-catalyzed proton transfer.

Gram-Scale Total Synthesis of Carbazomycins A-D through Late-Stage Regioselective Demethylation of Aryl Methyl Ethers

Gram-scale total synthesis of carbazomycins A-D is described. The total synthesis of carbazomycin A was achieved in 44% overall yield over six steps from symmetrical 5-chloro-1,2,3-trimethoxybenzene. The key aryne-mediated carbazole formation and methylation steps provided the multiply substituted carbazole. The regioselective demethylation of the trimethoxycarbazole was performed using boron trichloride. Thereafter, the phenolic hydroxy group was converted into the methyl group to provide carbazomycin A. Subsequent installation of the methoxy group realized the total synthesis of carbazomycin D. Regioselective demethylation was performed using 1-dodecanethiol, effecting the conversions of carbazomycins A and D into carbazomycins B and C, respectively.

Theoretical Analysis of Superior Photodegradation of Methylene Blue by Cerium Oxide/Reduced Graphene Oxide vs. Graphene

Density functional theory and a semi-empirical quantum chemical approach were used to evaluate the photocatalytic efficiency of ceria (CeO2) combined with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene (GP) for degrading methylene blue (MB). Two main aspects were examined: the adsorption ability of rGO and GP for MB, and the separation of photogenerated electrons and holes in CeO2/rGO and CeO2/GP. Our results, based on calculations of the adsorption energy, population analysis, bond strength index, and reduced density gradient, show favorable energetics for MB adsorption on both rGO and GP surfaces. The process is driven by weak, non-covalent interactions, with rGO showing better MB adsorption. A detailed analysis involving parameters like fractional occupation density, the centroid distance between molecular orbitals, and the Lewis acid index of the catalysts highlights the effective charge separation in CeO2/rGO compared to CeO2/GP. These findings are crucial for understanding photocatalytic degradation mechanisms of organic dyes and developing efficient photocatalysts.

Benchmarking machine-readable vectors of chemical reactions on computed activation barriers

In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in predicting computed activation barriers, to enable the acceleration of the automated exploration of reaction networks. Consequently, various predictive approaches have emerged, ranging from graph-based models to methods based on the three-dimensional structure of reactants and products. In tandem, many representations have been developed to predict experimental targets, which may hold promise for barrier prediction as well. Here, we bring together all of these efforts and benchmark various methods (Morgan fingerprints, the DRFP, the CGR representation-based Chemprop, SLATMd, B2Rl2, EquiReact and language model BERT + RXNFP) for the prediction of computed activation barriers on three diverse datasets.

Predicting Lewis Acidity: Machine Learning the Fluoride Ion Affinity of p-Block-Atom-Based Molecules

"How strong is this Lewis acid?" is a question researchers often approach by calculating its fluoride ion affinity (FIA) with quantum chemistry. Here, we present FIA49k, an extensive FIA dataset with 48,986 data points calculated at the RI-DSD-BLYP-D3(BJ)/def2-QZVPP//PBEh-3c level of theory, including 13 different p-block atoms as the fluoride accepting site. The FIA49k dataset was used to train FIA-GNN, two message-passing graph neural networks, which predict gas and solution phase FIA values of molecules excluded from training with a mean absolute error of 14 kJ mol-1 (r2=0.93) from the SMILES string of the Lewis acid as the only input. The level of accuracy is notable, given the wide energetic range of 750 kJ mol-1 spanned by FIA49k. The model's value was demonstrated with four case studies, including predictions for molecules extracted from the Cambridge Structural Database and by reproducing results from catalysis research available in the literature. Weaknesses of the model are evaluated and interpreted chemically. FIA-GNN and the FIA49k dataset can be reached via a free web app (www.grebgroup.de/fia-gnn).

The Field of Main Group Lewis Acids and Lewis Superacids: Important Basics and Recent Developments

New developments in the field of Lewis acidity are highlighted, with the focus of novel Lewis acids and Lewis superacids of group 2, 13, 14, and 15 elements. Several important basics, illustrated by modern examples (classification of Donor-Acceptor (DA) complexes, amphoteric nature of any compound in terms of DA interactions, reorganization energies of main group Lewis acids and the role of the energies of frontier orbitals) are presented and discussed. It is emphasized that the Lewis acidity phenomena are general and play vital role in different areas of chemistry: from weak "atomophilic" interactions to the complexes of Lewis superacids.

ArI(NTf2)2: the boundary of oxidative capacity for ArIL2?

Synthesis and crystallographic characterization of NO2-C6H4-I(NTf2)2 (NTf2 = bistriflimide) is reported. Experimental results find that this compound can perform oxidation reactions that ArI(OTf)2 is unable to and theoretical analysis indicates Ar-I(NTf2)2 is the most oxidizing in the ArIL2 class of compounds known and may also be the most oxidizing compound in the class practically possible.

Aluminum(III) Cations [(NHC) ⋅ AlMes2 ]+ : Synthesis, Characterization, and Application in FLP-Chemistry

The three-coordinate aluminum cations ligated by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) [(NHC) ⋅ AlMes2 ]+ [B(C6 F5 )4 ]- (NHC=IMeMe 4, IiPrMe 5, IiPr 6, Mes=2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) were prepared via hydride abstraction of the alanes (NHC) ⋅ AlHMes2 (NHC=IMeMe 1, IiPrMe 2, IiPr 3) using [Ph3 C]+ [B(C6 F5 )4 ]- in toluene as hydride acceptor. If this reaction was performed in diethyl ether, the corresponding four-coordinate aluminum etherate cations [(NHC) ⋅ AlMes2 (OEt2 )]+ [B(C6 F5 )4 ]- 7-9 (NHC=IMeMe 7, IiPrMe 8, IiPr 9) were isolated. According to a theoretical and experimental assessment of the Lewis-acidity of the [(IMeMe ) ⋅ AlMes2 ]+ cation is the acidity larger than that of B(C6 F5 )3 and of similar magnitude as reported for Al(C6 F5 )3 . The reaction of [(IMeMe ) ⋅ AlMes2 ]+ [B(C6 F5 )4 ]- 4 with the sterically less demanding, basic phosphine PMe3 afforded a mixed NHC/phosphine stabilized cation [(IMeMe ) ⋅ AlMes2 (PMe3 )]+ [B(C6 F5 )4 ]- 10. Equimolar mixtures of 4 and the sterically more demanding PCy3 gave a frustrated Lewis-pair (FLP), i.e., [(IMeMe ) ⋅ AlMes2 ]+ [B(C6 F5 )4 ]- /PCy3 FLP-11, which reacts with small molecules such as CO2 , ethene, and 2-butyne.

Analyzing Fluoride Binding by Group 15 Lewis Acids: Pnictogen Bonding in the Pentavalent State

We report the results of a computational investigation into fluoride binding by a series of pentavalent pnictogen Lewis acids: pnictogen pentahalides (PnX5), tetraphenyl pnictogeniums (PnPh4+), and triphenyl pnictogen tetrachlorocatecholates (PnPh3Cat). Activation strain and energy decomposition analyses of the Lewis adducts not only clearly delineate the electrostatic and orbital contributions to these acid-base interactions but also highlight the importance of Pauli repulsion and molecular flexibility in determining relative Lewis acidity among the pnictogens.

The Effect of Carborane Substituents on the Lewis Acidity of Boranes

The Lewis acidity of primary, secondary, and tertiary boranes with phenyl, pentafluorophenyl, and all three isomers of the C-substituted icosahedral carboranes (ortho, meta, and para) was investigated by computing their fluoride, hydride, and ammonia affinities as well as their global electrophilicity indices and LUMO energies. From these calculations, it was determined that the substituent effects on the Lewis acidity of these boranes follow the trend of ortho-carborane > meta-carborane > para-carborane > C6F5 > C6H5.

Highly luminescent antiaromatic diborinines with fused thiophene rings

Tricoordinate boron-incorporated π-conjugated systems are widely investigated as optoelectronic materials because of their unique p-π* orbital interactions and high Lewis acidity. Among them, thiophene-fused diborinines are characterized by moderate antiaromaticity and extended conjugation. In this work, we have developed two new dithienodiborinines with C_2h and C_2v symmetries, which exhibited completely different optical properties. The thiophene-fused diborinines synthesized in this study showed excellent fluorescence properties both in solution and in the solid state, with quantum yields of up to 95%. The high antiaromaticity enhanced the Lewis acidity of the boron centers, as proven by the large association constants with fluoride ion estimated from titration experiments. The high Lewis acidity and the superior luminescence property have enabled their application as fluorescent sensor materials for the detection of ammonia vapor.

Structure-Reactivity Relationships in Borane-Based FLP-Catalyzed Hydrogenations, Dehydrogenations, and Cycloisomerizations

ConspectusThe activation of molecular hydrogen by main-group element catalysts is an extremely important approach to metal-free hydrogenations. These so-called frustrated Lewis pairs advanced within a short period of time to become an alternative to transition metal catalysis. However, deep understanding of the structure-reactivity relationship is far less developed compared to that of transition metal complexes, although it is paramount for advancing frustrated Lewis pair chemistry.In this Account, we provide detailed insight into how Lewis acidity and Lewis basicity correlate to reactivity. The reactivity of frustrated Lewis pairs will be systematically discussed in context with selected reactions. The influence of major electronic modifications of the Lewis pairs is correlated with the ability to activate molecular hydrogen, to channel reaction kinetics and reaction pathways, or to achieve C(sp³)-H activations.First, we will describe how we entered this emerging field of research after quickly realizing that information was lacking on how the reactivity changes with modification of the frustrated Lewis pair. This led us to the development of a qualitative and quantitative structure-reactivity relationship in metal-free imine hydrogenations. The imine hydrogenation was utilized as the model reaction to experimentally determine the activation parameters of the FLP-mediated hydrogen activation for the first time. This kinetic study revealed autoinduced catalytic profiles when Lewis acids weaker than tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane were applied, opening up to study the Lewis base dependency within one system. With this knowledge of the interplay between Lewis acid strength and Lewis basicity, we developed methods for the hydrogenation of densely functionalized nitroolefins, acrylates, and malonates. Here, the reduced Lewis acidity needed to be counterbalanced by a suitable Lewis base to ensure efficient hydrogen activation. The opposite measure was necessary for the hydrogenation of unactivated olefins. For these, comparably less electron-releasing phosphanes were required to generate strong Brønsted acids by hydrogen activation. These systems displayed highly reversible hydrogen activation even at temperatures as low as -60 °C. A systematic study of these systems enabled the development of acceptorless dehydrocouplings of amines with silanes and dehydrogenations of aza-heterocycles by C(sp³)-H activations. Furthermore, the C(sp³)-H and π-activation was utilized to achieve cycloisomerizations by carbon-carbon and carbon-nitrogen bond formations. Lastly, new frustrated Lewis pair systems featuring weak Lewis bases as active components in the hydrogen activation were developed for the reductive deoxygenation of phosphane oxides and carboxylic acid amides.

An easy-to-perform evaluation of steric properties of Lewis acids

Steric and electronic effects play a very important role in chemistry, as these effects influence the shape and reactivity of molecules. Herein, an easy-to-perform approach to assess and quantify steric properties of Lewis acids with differently substituted Lewis acidic centers is reported. This model applies the concept of the percent buried volume (%V _Bur) to fluoride adducts of Lewis acids, as many fluoride adducts are crystallographically characterized and are frequently calculated to judge fluoride ion affinities (FIAs). Thus, data such as cartesian coordinates are often easily available. A list of 240 Lewis acids together with topographic steric maps and cartesian coordinates of an oriented molecule suitable for the SambVca 2.1 web application is provided, together with different FIA values taken from the literature. Diagrams of %V _Bur as a scale for steric demand vs. FIA as a scale for Lewis acidity provide valuable information about stereo-electronic properties of Lewis acids and an excellent evaluation of steric and electronic features of the Lewis acid under consideration. Furthermore, a novel LAB-Rep model (Lewis acid/base repulsion model) is introduced, which judges steric repulsion in Lewis acid/base pairs and helps to predict if an arbitrary pair of Lewis acid and Lewis base can form an adduct with respect to their steric properties. The reliability of this model was evaluated in four selected case studies, which demonstrate the versatility of this model. For this purpose, a user-friendly Excel spreadsheet was developed and is provided in the ESI, which works with listed buried volumes of Lewis acids %V _{Bur_LA} and of Lewis bases %V _{Bur_LB}, and no results from experimental crystal structures or quantum chemical calculations are necessary to evaluate steric repulsion in these Lewis acid/base pairs.

Computed ammonia affinity for evaluating Lewis acidity of organoboronates and organoboronamides

Lewis acidity of organoboronates [B(pin), B(neop), B(cat), B(eg), B(nad)] and organoboronamides [B(dan), B(aam), B(mdan)] has been found to be unifiedly evaluated by computed ammonia affinity (AA), while other methods [LUMO energies, global electrophilicity index (GEI), fluoride ion affinity (FIA)] were only partially applicable. The relationships between the AA values and such structural characters including the B-X bond lengths, the X-B-X angles, and the changes in the B-X bond lengths in the formation of the ammonia adducts were also described.

Manipulation of N-heterocyclic carbene reactivity with practical oriented electric fields

Electric fields can be used to tune the nucleophilicity and electrophilicity of N-heterocyclic carbenes and enhance their catalytic activity.

Phosphanyl-substituted tin half-sandwich complexes†

Phosphanyl-substituted tin(ii) half sandwich complexes are reported. Due to the Lewis acidic tin center and Lewis basic phosphorous atom they form head-to-tail dimers. Their properties and reactivities were investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Furthermore, related transition metal complexes of these species are presented.

Phosphanyl-substituted tin(ii) half sandwich complexes are reported, which exhibit Lewis acidic tin atoms and Lewis basic phosphorous atoms and form head-to-tail dimers.

One-step Oxidative Monofluorination of Electron-Deficient Sulfoxides to Access Highly Lewis Acidic Sulfur(VI) Cations

The strongly oxidizing, powerful electrophilic fluorination reagent [FXe][OTf] is shown to effect direct oxidative monofluorination of sulfoxides. This one-step, chloride promoter-free methodology provides access to so far inaccessible, yet highly desirable strongly Lewis acidic fluorosulfoxonium cations from electron-deficient and/or sterically demanding sulfoxides that are shown to be practically unreactive towards the previously reported XeF₂ /NEt₄ Cl system. Experimental and density functional theory studies have been conducted to assess the Lewis acidities of the prepared sulfur(VI) cations. Preliminary results obtained with chiral sulfoxides provide early insights into the mechanism of these fluorination reactions.

Unraveling the reactivity of a cationic iminoborane: avenues to unusual boron cations

A cationic terminal iminoborane [Mes*N Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019 ]]> B ← IPr₂Me₂][AlBr₄] (3⁺[AlBr₄]⁻) (Mes* = 2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl and IPr₂Me₂ = 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene) has been synthesized and characterized. The employment of an aryl group and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand enables 3⁺[AlBr₄]⁻ to exhibit both B-centered Lewis acidity and BN multiple bond reactivities, thus allowing for the construction of tri-coordinate boron cations 5⁺–12⁺. More importantly, initial reactions involving coordination, addition, and [2 + 3] cycloadditions have been observed for the cationic iminoborane, demonstrating the potential to build numerous organoboron species via several synthetic routes.

An NHC-stabilized aryliminoboryl cation exhibits both boron-centered Lewis acidity and multiple bond reactivity and could be utilized as an effective synthon for unusual cationic boron species.

Chemo- and regio-selective amidation of indoles with isocyanates using borane Lewis acids

A metal-free synthetic route using boranes has been developed for the amidation of indoles. A detailed mechanistic study was carried out to understand the reaction mechanism.

Probing the Boundaries between Lewis-Basic and Redox Behavior of a Parent Borylene

The parent borylene (CAAC)(Me3 P)BH, 1 (CAAC=cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene), acts both as a Lewis base and one-electron reducing agent towards group 13 trichlorides (ECl3 , E=B, Al, Ga, In), yielding the adducts 1-ECl3 and increasing proportions of the radical cation [1]•+ for the heavier group 13 analogues. With boron trihalides (BX3 , X=F, Cl, Br, I) 1 undergoes sequential adduct formation and halide abstraction reactions to yield borylboronium cations and shows an increasing tendency towards redox processes for the heavier halides. Calculations confirm that 1 acts as a strong Lewis base towards EX3 and show a marked increase in the B-E bond dissociation energies down both group 13 and the halide group.

Selective dimerization of α-methylstyrene by tunable bis(catecholato)germane Lewis acid catalysts

The synthesis of a variety of bis(catecholato)germanes is reported. The Lewis acidity of the bis(catecholato)germanes was assessed using the experimental Gutmann-Beckett method and computational FIA and GEI methods. The oligomerization of alkenes using bis(catecholato)germanes demonstrates the use of these complexes in catalysis. The use of donor additives in the dimerization of α-methylstyrene resulted in selectivity control comparable to transition metal catalyst systems.

Is the Electrophilicity of the Metal Nitrene the Sole Predictor of Metal-Mediated Nitrene Transfer to Olefins? Secondary Contributing Factors as Revealed by a Library of High-Spin Co(II) Reagents

Recent research has highlighted the key role played by the electron affinity of the active metal-nitrene/imido oxidant as the driving force in nitrene additions to olefins to afford valuable aziridines. The present work showcases a library of Co(II) reagents that, unlike the previously examined Mn(II) and Fe(II) analogues, demonstrate reactivity trends in olefin aziridinations that cannot be solely explained by the electron affinity criterion. A family of Co(II) catalysts (17 members) has been synthesized with the assistance of a trisphenylamido-amine scaffold decorated by various alkyl, aryl, and acyl groups attached to the equatorial amidos. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, cyclic voltammetry and EPR data reveal that the high-spin Co(II) sites (S = 3/2) feature a minimal [N3N] coordination and span a range of 1.4 V in redox potentials. Surprisingly, the Co(II)-mediated aziridination of styrene demonstrates reactivity patterns that deviate from those anticipated by the relevant electrophilicities of the putative metal nitrenes. The representative L4Co catalyst (-COCMe3 arm) is operating faster than the L8Co analogue (-COCF3 arm), in spite of diminished metal-nitrene electrophilicity. Mechanistic data (Hammett plots, KIE, stereocontrol studies) reveal that although both reagents follow a two-step reactivity path (turnover-limiting metal-nitrene addition to the C b atom of styrene, followed by product-determining ring-closure), the L4Co catalyst is associated with lower energy barriers in both steps. DFT calculations indicate that the putative [L4Co]NTs and [L8Co]NTs species are electronically distinct, inasmuch as the former exhibits a single-electron oxidized ligand arm. In addition, DFT calculations suggest that including London dispersion corrections for L4Co (due to the polarizability of the tert-Bu substituent) can provide significant stabilization of the turnover-limiting transition state. This study highlights how small ligand modifications can generate stereoelectronic variants that in certain cases are even capable of overriding the preponderance of the metal-nitrene electrophilicity as a driving force.

Multidimensional Lewis Acidity: A Consistent Data Set of Chloride, Hydride, Methide, Water and Ammonia Affinities for 183 p-Block Element Lewis Acids

The computed fluoride ion affinity (FIA) is a widely applied descriptor to gauge Lewis acidity. Like every other single-parameter Lewis acidity scale, the FIA metric suffers from the one-dimensionality, that prohibits addressing Lewis acidity by the multidimensionality it inherently requires (i. e., reference Lewis base dependency). However, a systematic screening of computed affinities other than the FIA is much less developed. Herein, we extended our CCSD(T)/CBS benchmark of different density functionals and the DLPNO-CCSD(T) method for chloride (CIA), methide (MIA), hydride (HIA), water (WA), and ammonia (AA) affinities. The best performing methods are subsequently applied to yield nearly 800 affinities for 183 p-block element compounds of group 13-16 with an estimated accuracy of <10 kJ mol-1 . The study's output serves as a consistent library for qualitative analyses and a training set for future statistical approaches. A first holistic correlation analysis underscores the need for a multidimensional description of Lewis acidity.

Lewis Acidic Boranes, Lewis Bases, and Equilibrium Constants: A Reliable Scaffold for a Quantitative Lewis Acidity/Basicity Scale

A quantitative Lewis acidity/basicity scale toward boron-centered Lewis acids has been developed based on a set of 90 experimental equilibrium constants for the reactions of triarylboranes with various O-, N-, S-, and P-centered Lewis bases in dichloromethane at 20 °C. Analysis with the linear free energy relationship log KB =LAB +LBB allows equilibrium constants, KB , to be calculated for any type of borane/Lewis base combination through the sum of two descriptors, one for Lewis acidity (LAB ) and one for Lewis basicity (LBB ). The resulting Lewis acidity/basicity scale is independent of fixed reference acids/bases and valid for various types of trivalent boron-centered Lewis acids. It is demonstrated that the newly developed Lewis acidity/basicity scale is easily extendable through linear relationships with quantum-chemically calculated or common physical-organic descriptors and known thermodynamic data (ΔHBF 3 ). Furthermore, this experimental platform can be utilized for the rational development of borane-catalyzed reactions.

Reversible Silylium Transfer between P-H and Si-H Donors

The Mo=PR₂ π* orbital in a Mo phosphenium complex acts as acceptor in a new P^III -based Lewis superacid. This Lewis acid (LA) participates in electrophilic Si-H abstraction from E₃ SiH to give a Mo-bound secondary phosphine ligand, Mo-PR₂ H. The resulting Et₃ Si⁺ ion remains associated with the Mo complex, stabilized by η¹ -P-H donation, yet undergoes rapid exchange with an η¹ -Si-H adduct of free silane in solution. The equilibrium between these two adducts presents an opportunity to assess the role of this new LA in catalytic reactions of silanes: is the LA acting as a catalyst or as an initiator? Preliminary results suggest that a cycle including the Mo-bound phosphine-silylium adduct dominates in the catalytic hydrosilylation of acetophenone, relative to a putative cycle involving the silane-silylium adduct or "free" silylium.

Methylene Bridging Effect on the Structures, Lewis Acidities and Optical Properties of Semi-planar Triarylboranes

Three synthetic methods towards semi-planar triarylboranes with two aryl rings connected by a methylene bridge have been developed. The fine-tuning of their stereoelectronic properties and Lewis acidities was achieved by introducing fluorine, methyl, methoxy, n-butyl and phenyl groups either at their exocyclic or bridged aryl rings. X-ray diffraction analysis and quantum-chemical calculations provided quantitative information on the structural distortion experienced by the near planar hydro-boraanthracene skeleton during the association with Lewis bases such as NH₃ and F^- . Though the methylene bridge between the ortho-positions of two aryl rings of triarylboranes decreased the Gibbs free energies of complexation with small Lewis bases by less than 5 kJ mol^-1 relative to the classical Lewis acid BAr₃ , the steric shielding of the CH₂ bridge is sufficient to avoid the formation of Lewis adducts with larger Lewis bases such as triarylphosphines. A newly synthesized spirocyclic amino-borane with a long intramolecular B-N bond that could be dissociated under thermal process, UV-irradiation, or acidic conditions might be a potential candidate in Lewis pairs catalysis.

A convenient access to fluorophosphonium triflate salts by electrophilic fluorination and anion exchange

The in situ one-pot electrophilic fluorination of phosphanes with NFSI followed by anion exchange with MeOTf gives highly electrophilic fluorophosphonium triflates – highly efficient catalysts for the synthesis of N-sulfonylamidines from amides.

Nature and Strength of Lewis Acid/Base Interaction in Boron and Nitrogen Trihalides

We have quantum chemically investigated the bonding between archetypical Lewis acids and bases. Our state-of-the-art computations on the X3 B-NY3 Lewis pairs have revealed the origin behind the systematic increase in B-N bond strength as X and Y are varied from F to Cl, Br, I, H. For H3 B-NY3 , the bonding trend is driven by the commonly accepted mechanism of donor-acceptor [HOMO(base)-LUMO(acid)] interaction. Interestingly, for X3 B-NH3 , the bonding mechanism is determined by the energy required to deform the BX3 to the pyramidal geometry it adopts in the adduct. Thus, Lewis acids that can more easily pyramidalize form stronger bonds with Lewis bases. The decrease in the strain energy of pyramidalization on going from BF3 to BI3 is directly caused by the weakening of the B-X bond strength, which stems primarily from the bonding in the plane of the molecule (σ-like) and not in the π system, at variance with the currently accepted mechanism.

Alkaline-earth complexes with macrocyclic-functionalised bis(phenolate)s and bis(fluoroalkoxide)s

The synthesis and structural features of several families of unsolvated molecular complexes of the heavy alkaline earths (Ae = calcium, strontium and barium) supported by bis(phenolate)s or bis(fluoroalkoxide)s are described. These dianionic, multidentate ligands are built around diaza-macrocycles that contain either five or six N- and O-heteroatoms. Several of these complexes have been characterised by X-ray diffraction crystallography. A list of comparative features was drawn upon close examination of the molecular structures of these complexes. It highlights the subtle influences of the identity of the central Ae metal, denticity and nature -fluoroalkoxide vs. phenolate- of the anionic tethers in the ligands. All complexes are seven- or eight-coordinate. It is observed in particular that a decrease of the number of heteroatoms in the macrocyclic backbone of the ligand will be compensated by the establishment of intramolecular AeF interactions (accounting for ca. 3.8-6.4% of the pertaining coordination spheres according to bond valence sum analysis), dimerisation of the complex, or, in one case, solvent (thf) retention. Attempts to gauge the Lewis acidity in these series of complexes were carried out by three independent methods (Childs, Gutmann-Beckett and global electrophilicity index). However, conflicting results were obtained and no clear trend can be delineated, even if on the whole, these measurements concur to suggest relatively low Lewis acidity.

Magnesocenophane-Catalyzed Amine Borane Dehydrocoupling

The Lewis acidities of a series of [n]magnesocenophanes (1 a–d) have been investigated computationally and found to be a function of the tilt of the cyclopentadienyl moieties. Their catalytic abilities in amine borane dehydrogenation/dehydrocoupling reactions have been probed, and C[1]magnesocenophane (1 a) has been shown to effectively catalyze the dehydrogenation/dehydrocoupling of dimethylamine borane (2 a) and diisopropylamine borane (2 b) under ambient conditions. Furthermore, the mechanism of the reaction with 2 a has been investigated experimentally and computationally, and the results imply a ligand‐assisted mechanism involving stepwise proton and hydride transfer, with dimethylaminoborane as the key intermediate.

An Extensive Set of Accurate Fluoride Ion Affinities for p-Block Element Lewis Acids and Basic Design Principles for Strong Fluoride Ion Acceptors

The computed fluoride ion affinity (FIA) is a valuable descriptor to assess the Lewis acidity of a compound. Despite its widespread use, the varying accuracy of applied computational models hampers the broad comparability of literature data. Herein, we evaluate the performance of selected methods (like DLPNO‐CCSD(T)) in FIA computations against CCSD(T)/CBS data and guide for the choice of suitable density functionals that allow the treatment of larger Lewis acids. Based on the benchmarked methods, we computed an extensive set of gas‐phase and solvation corrected FIA, that is covering group 13–16 elements featuring moderate to strong electron‐withdrawing substituents (190 entries). It permits an unbiased comparison of FIA over a significant fraction of the periodic table, serves as a source of reference for future synthetic or theoretical studies, and allows to derive some simple design principles for strong fluoride ion acceptors. Finally, the manuscript includes a tutorial section for the computation of FIA with and without the consideration of solvation.