Multiple Electrophilic C–H Borylation of Arenes Using Boron Triiodide

Mechanistic study on the reductive elimination of (aryl)(fluoroaryl)palladium complexes: a key step in regiospecific dehydrogenative cross-coupling

Cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reactions have attracted attention as short-step synthetic methods for C-C bond formation. Recently, we have developed CDC reactions between naphthalene and fluorobenzene. Rather than exhibiting general regioselectivity, this reaction proceeds selectively at the β-position of naphthalene. In this study, investigation using model complexes as reaction intermediates revealed that the origin of the unique selectivity is the exclusive occurrence of reductive elimination at the β-position. Detailed studies on the reductive elimination showed that the steric hindrance of the naphthyl group and the electron-withdrawing properties of fluorobenzene determine the position at which the reductive elimination reaction proceeds. These results show that the selectivity of the C-H functionalisation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is determined not by the C-H cleavage step, but by the subsequent reductive elimination step. The regioselective CDC reaction was adaptable to various PAHs but was less selective for pyrene with extended π-conjugation. In fluorobenzene substrates, the F atoms at the two ortho positions of the C-H moiety are necessary for high selectivity. The substrate ranges are in good agreement with the proposed mechanism, in which the reductive elimination step determines the regioselectivity.

Synthetic progress of organic thermally activated delayed fluorescence emitters via C-H activation and functionalization

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters have become increasingly prominent due to their promising applications across various fields, prompting a continuous demand for developing reliable synthetic methods to access them. This review aims to highlight the progress made in the last decade in synthesizing organic TADF compounds through C-H bond activation and functionalization. The review begins with a brief introduction to the basic features and design principles of TADF emitters. It then provides an overview of the advantages and concise development of C-H bond transformations in constructing TADF emitters. Subsequently, it summarizes both transition-metal-catalyzed and non-transition-metal-promoted C-H bond transformations used for the synthesis of TADF emitters. Finally, the review gives an outlook on further challenges and potential directions in this field.

Organoboron-based multiple-resonance emitters: synthesis, structure-property correlations, and prospects

Boron-based multiple-resonance (MR) emitters exhibit the advantages of narrowband emission, high absolute photoluminescence quantum yield, thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF), and sufficient stability during the operation of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Thus, such MR emitters have been widely applied as blue emitters in triplet-triplet-annihilation-driven fluorescent devices used in smartphones and televisions. Moreover, they hold great promise as TADF or terminal emitters in TADF-assisted fluorescence or phosphor-sensitised fluorescent OLEDs. Herein we comprehensively review organoboron-based MR emitters based on their synthetic strategies, clarify structure-photophysical property correlations, and provide design guidelines and future development prospects.

Borylation-Reduction-Borylation for the Formation of 1,4-Azaborines

Given the current interest in materials containing 1,4-azaborine units, the development of new routes to these structures is important. Carbonyl directed electrophilic borylation using BBr3 is a facile method for the ortho-borylation of N,N-diaryl-amide derivatives. Subsequent addition of Et3SiH results in carbonyl reduction and then formation of 1,4-azaborines that can be protected in situ using a Grignard reagent. Overall, borylation-reduction-borylation is a one-pot methodology to access 1,4-azaborines from simple precursors.

A Quadruple-Borylated Multiple-Resonance Emitter with para/meta Heteroatomic Patterns for Narrowband Orange-Red Emission

Hindered by spectral broadening issues with redshifted emission, long-wavelength (e.g., maxima beyond 570 nm) multiple resonance (MR) emitters with full width at half maxima (FWHMs) below 20 nm remain absent. Herein, by strategically embedding diverse boron (B)/nitrogen (N) atomic pairs into a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) skeleton, we propose a hybrid pattern for the construction of a long-wavelength narrowband MR emitter. The proof-of-concept emitter B4N6-Me realized orange-red emission with an extremely small FWHM of 19 nm (energy unit: 70 meV), representing the narrowest FWHM among all reported long-wavelength MR emitters. Theoretical calculations revealed that the cooperation of the applied para B-π-N and para B-π-B/N-π-N patterns is complementary, which gives rise to both narrowband and redshift characteristics. The corresponding organic light-emitting diode (OLED) employing B4N6-Me achieved state-of-the-art performance, e.g., a narrowband orange-red emission with an FWHM of 27 nm (energy unit: 99 meV), an excellent maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 35.8 %, and ultralow efficiency roll-off (EQE of 28.4 % at 1000 cd m-2 ). This work provides new insights into the further molecular design and synthesis of long-wavelength MR emitters.

Transition Metal-Free Aromatic C-H, C-N, C-S and C-O Borylation

Aromatic organoboron compounds are highly valuable building blocks in organic chemistry. They were mainly synthesized through aromatic C-H and C-Het borylation, in which transition metal-catalysis dominate. In the past decade, with increasing attention to sustainable chemistry, numerous transition metal-free C-H and C-Het borylation transformations have been developed and emerged as efficient methods towards the synthesis of aromatic organoboron compounds. This account mainly focuses on recent advances in transition metal-free aromatic C-H, C-N, C-S, and C-O borylation transformations and provides insights to where further developments are required.

Metal-Free Intermolecular C-H Borylation of N-Heterocycles at B-B Multiple Bonds

Carbene-stabilized diborynes of the form LBBL (L=N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) or cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene (CAAC)) induce rapid, high yielding, intermolecular ortho-C-H borylation at N-heterocycles at room temperature. A simple pyridyldiborene is formed when an NHC-stabilized diboryne is combined with pyridine, while a CAAC-stabilized diboryne leads to activation of two pyridine molecules to give a tricyclic alkylideneborane, which can be forced to undergo a further H-shift resulting in a zwitterionic, doubly benzo-fused 1,3,2,5-diazadiborinine by heating. Use of the extended N-heteroaromatic quinoline leads to a borylmethyleneborane under mild conditions via an unprecedented boron-carbon exchange process.

Sequential Multiple Borylation Toward an Ultrapure Green Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Material

Multiple-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) emitters have emerged as an important component of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) because of their narrowband emission and high exciton utilization efficiency. However, the chemical space of MR-TADF emitters remains mostly unexplored because of the lack of suitable synthetic protocols. Herein, we demonstrate a sequential multiple borylation reaction that provides new synthetically accessible chemical space. ω-DABNA, the proof-of-concept material, exhibited narrowband green TADF with a full width at half-maximum of 22 nm and a small singlet-triplet energy gap of 13 meV. The OLED employing it as an emitter exhibited electroluminescence at 512 nm, with Commission International de l'Éclairage coordinates of (0.13, 0.73) and a high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 31.1%. Moreover, the device showed minimum efficiency roll-off, with an EQE of 29.4% at 1000 cd m^-2.

One-Shot Synthesis of Expanded Heterohelicene Exhibiting Narrowband Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence

An expanded heterohelicene consisting of three BN₂-embedded [4]helicene subunits (V-DABNA-Mes) has been synthesized by one-shot triple borylation. The key to success is the excessive use of boron tribromide in an autoclave. Based on the multiple resonance effect of three boron and six nitrogen atoms, V-DABNA-Mes exhibited a narrowband sky-blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence with a full width at half-maximum of 16 nm. The resonating π-extension minimized the singlet-triplet energy gap and enabled rapid reverse intersystem crossing with a rate constant of 4.4 × 10⁵ s^-1. The solution-processed organic light-emitting diode device, employed as an emitter, exhibited a narrowband emission at 480 nm with a high external quantum efficiency of 22.9%.

Hypsochromic Shift of Multiple-Resonance-Induced Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence by Oxygen Atom Incorporation

Herein, we reported an ultrapure blue multiple-resonance-induced thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) material (ν-DABNA-O-Me) with a high photoluminescence quantum yield and a large rate constant for reverse intersystem crossing. Because of restricted π-conjugation of the HOMO rather than the LUMO induced by oxygen atom incorporation, ν-DABNA-O-Me shows a hypsochromic shift compared to the parent MR-TADF material (ν-DABNA). An organic light-emitting diode based on this material exhibits an emission at 465 nm, with a small full-width at half-maximum of 23 nm and Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage coordinates of (0.13, 0.10), and a high maximum external quantum efficiency of 29.5 %. Moreover, ν-DABNA-O-Me facilitates a drastically improved efficiency roll-off and a device lifetime compared to ν-DABNA, which demonstrates significant potential of the oxygen atom incorporation strategy.

Iridium-Catalysed C-H Borylation of Heteroarenes: Balancing Steric and Electronic Regiocontrol

The iridium-catalysed borylation of aromatic C-H bonds has become the preferred method for the synthesis of aromatic organoboron compounds. The reaction is highly efficient, tolerant of a broad range of substituents and can be applied to both carbocyclic and heterocyclic substrates. The regioselectivity of C-H activation is dominated by steric considerations and there have been considerable efforts to develop more selective processes for less constrained substrates. However, most of these have focused on benzenoid-type substrates and in contrast, heteroarenes remain much desired but more challenging substrates with the position and/or nature of the heteroatom(s) significantly affecting reactivity and regioselectivity. This review will survey the borylation of heteroarenes, focusing on the influence of steric and electronic effects on regiochemical outcome and, by linking to current mechanistic understandings, will provide insights to what is currently possible and where further developments are required.

A new air-stable Si,S-chelating ligand for Ir-catalyzed directed ortho C-H borylation

A new air-stable Si,S-chelating ligand has been developed and used in an iridium-catalyzed ortho C-H borylation reaction with a broad substrate scope. This study provides the first example of using a sulfur-containing ligand in the catalytic C-H borylation process. It provides a rapid, efficient, and economical method for the preparation of organoboron compounds.

Solution-Processable Pure Green Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Emitter Based on the Multiple Resonance Effect

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials based on the multiple resonance (MR) effect are applied in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), combining high color purity and efficiency. However, they are not fabricated via solution-processing, which is an economical approach toward the mass production of OLED displays. Here, a solution-processable MR-TADF material (OAB-ABP-1), with an extended π-skeleton and bulky substituents, is designed. OAB-ABP-1 is synthesized from commercially available starting materials via a four-step process involving one-shot double borylation. OAB-ABP-1 presents attractive photophysical properties, a narrow emission band, a high photoluminescence quantum yield, a small energy gap between S₁ and T₁ , and low activation energy for reverse intersystem crossing. These properties are attributed to the alternating localization of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals induced by the boron, nitrogen, and oxygen atoms. Furthermore, to facilitate charge recombination, two novel semiconducting polymers with similar ionization potentials to that of OAB-ABP-1 are synthesized for use as interlayer and emissive layer materials. A solution-processed OLED device is fabricated using OAB-ABP-1 and the aforementioned polymers; it exhibits pure green electroluminescence with a small full-width at half-maximum and a high external quantum efficiency with minimum efficiency roll-off.

Intramolecular (directed) electrophilic C-H borylation

The intramolecular C-H borylation of (hetero)arenes and alkenes using electrophilic boranes is a powerful transition metal free methodology for forming C-B bonds. These C-H borylation reactions are preceded by intermolecular bond (both dative and covalent) formation, with examples proceeding via initial C-B and N-B bond formation dominating this field thus both are discussed in depth herein. Less prevalent intramolecular electrophilic C-H borylation reactions that proceed by intermolecular O-B, S-B and P-B bond formation are also summarised. Mechanistic studies are presented that reveal two mechanisms for C-H borylation, (i) electrophilic aromatic substitution (prevalent with B-X electrophiles); (ii) σ-bond metathesis mediated (prevalent with B-H and B-R electrophiles). To date, intramolecular electrophilic C-H borylation is utilised mainly for accessing boron containing conjugated organic materials, however recent developments, summarized herein alongside early studies, have highlighted the applicability of this methodology for forming synthetically versatile organo-boronate esters and boron containing bioactives. The multitude of synthetic procedures reported for intramolecular electrophilic C-H borylation contain many common features and this enables key requirements for successful C-H borylation and the factors effecting regioselectivity and substrate scope to be identified, discussed and summarized.