Unsolvated Al(C6F5)3: structural features and electronic interaction with ferrocene

Coordination of Al(C6F5)3 vs. B(C6F5)3 on group 6 end-on dinitrogen complexes: chemical and structural divergences

The coordination of the Lewis superacid tris(pentafluorophenyl)alane (AlCF) to phosphine-supported, group 6 bis(dinitrogen) complexes [ML2(N2)2] is explored, with M = Cr, Mo or W and L = dppe (1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane), depe (1,2-bis(diethylphosphino)ethane), dmpe (1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane) or 2 × PMe2Ph. Akin to tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF), AlCF can form 1 : 1 adducts by coordination to one distal nitrogen of general formula trans-[ML2(N2){(μ-η1:η1-N2)Al(C6F5)3}]. The boron and aluminium adducts are structurally similar, showing a comparable level of N2 push-pull activation. A notable exception is a bent (BCF adducts) vs. linear (AlCF adducts) M-N-N-LA motif (LA = Lewis acid), explained computationally as the result of steric repulsion. A striking difference arose when the formation of two-fold adducts was conducted. While in the case of BCF the 2 : 1 Lewis pairs could be observed in equilibrium with the 1 : 1 adduct and free borane but resisted isolation, AlCF forms robust 2 : 1 adducts trans-[ML2{(μ-η1:η1-N2)Al(C6F5)3}2] that isomerise into a more stable cis configuration. These compounds could be isolated and structurally characterized, and represent the first examples of trinuclear heterometallic complexes formed by Lewis acid-base interaction exhibiting p and d elements. Calculations also demonstrate that from the bare complex to the two-fold aluminium adduct, substantial decrease of the HOMO-LUMO gap is observed, and, unlike the trans adducts (1 : 1 and 1 : 2) for which the HOMO was computed to be a pure d orbital, the one of the cis-trinuclear compounds mixes a d orbital with a π* one of each N2 ligands. This may translate into a more favourable electrophilic attack on the N2 ligands instead of the metal centre, while a stabilized N2-centered LUMO should ease electron transfer, suggesting Lewis acids could be co-activators for electro-catalysed N2 reduction. Experimental UV-vis spectra for the tungsten family of compounds were compared with TD-DFT calculations (CAM-B3LYP/def2-TZVP), allowing to assign the low extinction bands found in the visible spectrum to unusual low-lying MLCT involving N2-centered orbitals. As significant red-shifts are observed upon LA coordination, this could have important implications for the development of visible light-driven nitrogen fixation.

Introducing AFS ([Al(SO3F)3]x) - a thermally stable, readily available, and catalytically active solid Lewis superacid

Common Lewis superacids often suffer from low thermal stability or complicated synthetic protocols, requiring multi-step procedures and expensive starting materials. This prevents their large-scale application. Herein, the easy and comparably cheap synthesis of high-purity aluminium tris(fluorosulfate) ([Al(SO3F)3]x, AFS) is presented. All starting materials are commercially available and no work-up is required. The superacidity of this thermally stable, polymeric Lewis acid is demonstrated using both theoretical and experimental methods. Furthermore, its synthetic and catalytic applicability, e.g. in bond heterolysis reactions and C-F bond activations, is shown.

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.

Boroles from alumoles: accessing boroles with alkyl-substituted backbones via transtrielation

The alumole Cp3tAlC4Et4 (Cp3t = 1,2,4-tris(tert-butyl)cyclopentadienyl) is reported to be capable of transferring its butadiene moiety to aryl(dihalo)boranes to generate boroles through aluminum-boron exchange. The products feature a rare alkyl-substituted backbone, which, as shown in other examples, often leads to dimerization due to insufficient steric protection of the antiaromatic borole ring. Sterically crowded aryl groups bound to the boron atom are shown to prevent dimerization, allowing access to the first monomeric derivatives of this type. Results from UV-vis spectroscopy, electrochemistry, and DFT calculations reveal that the alkyl substituents cause remarkable modifications in the optical and electronic properties of the boroles compared to their perarylated counterparts.

Group 13 exchange and transborylation in catalysis

Catalysis is dominated by the use of rare and potentially toxic transition metals. The main group offers a potentially sustainable alternative for catalysis, due to the generally higher abundance and lower toxicity of these elements. Group 13 elements have a rich catalogue of stoichiometric addition reactions to unsaturated bonds but cannot undergo the redox chemistry which underpins transition-metal catalysis. Group 13 exchange reactions transfer one or more groups from one group 13 element to another, through σ-bond metathesis; where boron is both of the group 13 elements, this is termed transborylation. These redox-neutral processes are increasingly being used to render traditionally stoichiometric group 13-mediated processes catalytic and develop new catalytic processes, examples of which are the focus of this review.

Up-Scale Synthesis of p-(CH2=CH)C6H4CH2CH2CH2Cl and p-ClC6H4SiR3 by CuCN-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions of Grignard Reagents with Organic Halides

Grignard reagents featuring carbanion characteristics are mostly unreactive toward alkyl halides and require a catalyst for the coupling reaction. With the need to prepare p-(CH₂=CH)C₆H₄CH₂CH₂CH₂Cl on a large scale, the coupling reaction of p-(CH₂=CH)C₆H₄MgCl with BrCH₂CH₂CH₂Cl was attempted to screen the catalysts, and CuCN was determined to be the best catalyst affording the desired compound in 80% yield with no formation of Wurtz coupling side product CH₂=CHC₆H₄-C₆H₄CH=CH₂. The p-(CH₂=CH)C₆H₄Cu(CN)MgCl species was proposed as an intermediate based on the X-ray structure of PhCu(CN)Mg(THF)₄Cl. p-ClC₆H₄MgCl did not react with sterically encumbered R₃SiCl (R = n-Bu or n-octyl). However, the reaction took place with the addition of 3 mol % CuCN catalyst, affording the desired compound p-ClC₆H₄SiR₃. The structures of p-(CH₂=CH)C₆H₄CH₂CH₂CH₂MgCl and p-ClC₆H₄MgCl were also elucidated, which existed as an aggregate with MgCl₂, suggesting that some portion of the Grignard reagents were possibly lost in the coupling reaction due to coprecipitation with the byproduct MgCl₂. R₃SiCl (R = n-Bu or n-octyl) was also prepared easily and economically with no formation of R₄Si when SiCl₄ was reacted with 4 equiv of RMgCl. Using the developed syntheses, [p-(CH₂=CH)C₆H₄CH₂CH₂CH₂]₂Zn and iPrN[P(C₆H₄-p-SiR₃)₂]₂, which are potentially useful compounds for the production of PS-block-PO-block-PS and 1-octene, respectively, were efficiently synthesized with substantial cost reductions.

Insights on the Lewis Superacid Al(OTeF5 )3 : Solvent Adducts, Characterization and Properties

Preparation and characterization of the dimeric Lewis superacid [Al(OTeF₅ )₃ ]₂ and various solvent adducts is presented. The latter range from thermally stable adducts to highly reactive, weakly bound species. DFT calculations on the ligand affinity of these Lewis acids were performed in order to rank their remaining Lewis acidity. An experimental proof of the Lewis acidity is provided by the reaction of solvent-adducts of Al(OTeF₅ )₃ with [PPh₄ ][SbF₆ ] and OPEt₃ , respectively. Furthermore, their reactivity towards chloride and pentafluoroorthotellurate salts as well as (CH₃ )₃ SiCl and (CH₃ )₃ SiF is shown. This includes the formation of the dianion [Al(OTeF₅ )₅ ]^2- .

One- and Two-Electron Transfer Oxidation of 1,4-Disilabenzene with Formation of Stable Radical Cations and Dications

Electron‐transferable oxidants such as B(C₆F₅)₃/nBuLi, B(C₆F₅)₃/LiB(C₆F₅)₄, B(C₆F₅)₃/LiHBEt₃, Al(C₆F₅)₃/(o‐RC₆H₄)AlH₂ (R=N(CMe₂CH₂)₂CH₂), B(C₆F₅)₃/AlEt₃, Al(C₆F₅)₃, Al(C₆F₅)₃/nBuLi, Al(C₆F₅)₃/AlMe₃, (CuC₆F₅)₄, and Ag₂SO₄, respectively were employed for reactions with (L)₂Si₂C₄(SiMe₃)₂(C₂SiMe₃)₂ (L=PhC(NtBu)₂, 1). The stable radical cation [1]^+. was formed and paired with the anions [nBuB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (in 2), [B(C₆F₅)₄]⁻ (in 3), [HB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (in 4), [EtB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (in 5), {[(C₆F₅)₃Al]₂(μ‐F)]⁻ (in 6), [nBuAl(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (in 7), and [Cu(C₆F₅)₂]⁻ (in 8), respectively. The stable dication [1]²⁺ was also generated with the anions [EtB(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (9) and [MeAl(C₆F₅)₃]⁻ (10), respectively. In addition, the neutral compound [(L)₂Si₂C₄(SiMe₃)₂(C₂SiMe₃)₂][μ‐O₂S(O)₂] (11) was obtained. Compounds 2–11 are characterized by UV‐vis absorption spectroscopy, X‐ray crystallography, and elemental analysis. Compounds 2–8 are analyzed by EPR spectroscopy and compounds 9–11 by NMR spectroscopy. The structure features are discussed on the central Si₂C₄‐rings of 1, [1]^+., [1]²⁺, and 11, respectively.

Synthesis and Reactivity of Fluorinated Triaryl Aluminum Complexes

The addition of the Grignard 3,4,5-Ar^FMgBr to aluminum(III) chloride in ether generates the novel triarylalane Al(3,4,5-Ar^F)₃·OEt₂. Attempts to synthesize this alane via transmetalation from the parent borane with trimethylaluminum gave a dimeric structure with bridging methyl groups, a product of partial transmetalation. On the other hand, the novel alane Al(2,3,4-Ar^F)₃ was synthesized from the parent borane and trimethylaluminum. Interestingly, the solid-state structure of Al(2,3,4-Ar^F)₃ shows an extended chain structure resulting from neighboring Al···F contacts. Al(3,4,5-Ar^F)₃·OEt₂ was then found to be an effective catalyst for the hydroboration of carbonyls, imines, and alkynes with pinacolborane.

The addition of the Grignard 3,4,5-Ar^FMgBr to aluminum(III) chloride in ether generates the novel triarylalane Al(3,4,5-Ar^F)₃·OEt₂. Attempts to synthesize this alane via transmetalation from the parent borane with trimethylaluminum gave a dimeric structure with bridging methyl groups; a product of partial transmetalation. On the other hand, the novel alane Al(2,3,4-Ar^F)₃ was synthesized from the parent borane and trimethylaluminum. Al(3,4,5-Ar^F)₃·OEt₂ was then found to be an effective catalyst for the hydroboration of carbonyls, imines and alkynes with pinacolborane.

Aluminum-catalyzed tunable halodefluorination of trifluoromethyl- and difluoroalkyl-substituted olefins

Herein, we report unprecedented aluminum-catalyzed halodefluorination reactions of trifluoromethyl- and difluoroalkyl-substituted olefins with bromo- or chlorotrimethylsilane. The interesting feature of these reactions is that one, two, or three fluorine atoms can be selectively replaced with bromine or chlorine atoms by modification of the reaction conditions. The generated products can undergo a variety of subsequent transformations, thus constituting a valuable stock of building blocks for installing fluorine-containing olefin motifs in other molecules.

Aluminum-catalyzed halodefluorination reactions of fluoroalkyl-substituted olefins are developed. The reactions can selectively deliver mono-, di-, or trisubstituted products.

Photoinduced and Thermal Single-Electron Transfer to Generate Radicals from Frustrated Lewis Pairs

Archetypal phosphine/borane frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) are famed for their ability to activate small molecules. The mechanism is generally believed to involve two-electron processes. However, the detection of radical intermediates indicates that single-electron transfer (SET) generating frustrated radical pairs could also play an important role. These highly reactive radical species typically have significantly higher energy than the FLP, which prompted this investigation into their formation. Herein, we provide evidence that the classical phosphine/borane combinations PMes3 /B(C6 F5 )3 and PtBu3 /B(C6 F5 )3 both form an electron donor-acceptor (charge-transfer) complex that undergoes visible-light-induced SET to form the corresponding highly reactive radical-ion pairs. Subsequently, we show that by tuning the properties of the Lewis acid/base pair, the energy required for SET can be reduced to become thermally accessible.

An Unusual and Facile Synthetic Route to Alumoles

Reaction of the aluminum dialkynyl LAl(CCR)₂ (L=N,N‐chelate ligand and R=organic group) with B(C₆F₅)₃ proceeds through an intermediate with Al⋅⋅⋅η²‐C≡C side‐on coordination to form the alumoles (2, 4, 6). A distinctive reaction pattern indicates a new facile synthetic route to aluminum‐containing heterocycles. The synthetic process is described, and the characterization of compounds and computational calculations were carried out. Furthermore, alumoles 2 and 4 exhibit an aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) of the bright yellow fluorescence.

Radicals derived from Lewis acid/base pairs

While conventional approaches to stabilizing main group radicals have involved the use of Lewis acids or bases, this tutorial review focuses on new avenues to main group radicals derived from combinations of donor and acceptor molecules.

Lewis Acid-Mediated One-Electron Reduction of Nitrous Oxide

The one-electron reduction of nitrous oxide (N₂ O) was achieved using strong Lewis acids E(C₆ F₅ )₃ (E=B or Al) in combination with metallocenes. In the case of B(C₆ F₅ )₃ , electron transfer to N₂ O required a powerful reducing agent such as Cp*₂ Co (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). In the presence of Al(C₆ F₅ )₃ , on the other hand, the reactions could be performed with weaker reducing agents such as Cp*₂ Fe or Cp₂ Fe (Cp=cyclopentadienyl). The Lewis acid-mediated electron transfer from the metallocene to N₂ O resulted in cleavage of the N-O bond, generating N₂ and the oxyl radical anion [OE(C₆ F₅ )₃ ]^⋅- . The latter is highly reactive and engages in C-H activation reactions. It was possible to trap the radical by addition of the Gomberg dimer, which acts as a source of the trityl radical.

Polymerization of Polar Monomers Mediated by Main-Group Lewis Acid-Base Pairs

The development of new or more sustainable, active, efficient, controlled, and selective polymerization reactions or processes continues to be crucial for the synthesis of important polymers or materials with specific structures or functions. In this context, the newly emerged polymerization technique enabled by main-group Lewis pairs (LPs), termed as Lewis pair polymerization (LPP), exploits the synergy and cooperativity between the Lewis acid (LA) and Lewis base (LB) sites of LPs, which can be employed as frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs), interacting LPs (ILPs), or classical Lewis adducts (CLAs), to effect cooperative monomer activation as well as chain initiation, propagation, termination, and transfer events. Through balancing the Lewis acidity, Lewis basicity, and steric effects of LPs, LPP has shown several unique advantages or intriguing opportunities compared to other polymerization techniques and demonstrated its broad polar monomer scope, high activity, control or livingness, and complete chemo- or regioselectivity, as well as its unique application in materials chemistry. These advances made in LPP are comprehensively reviewed, with the scope of monomers focusing on heteroatom-containing polar monomers, while the polymerizations mediated by main-group LAs and LBs separately that are most relevant to the LPP are also highlighted or updated. Examples of applying the principles of the LPP and LP chemistry as a new platform for advancing materials chemistry are highlighted, and currently unmet challenges in the field of the LPP, and thus the suggested corresponding future research directions, are also presented.

Single Electron Delivery to Lewis Pairs: An Avenue to Anions by Small Molecule Activation

Single electron transfer (SET) reactions are effected by the combination of a Lewis acid (e.g., E(C₆F₅)₃ E = B or Al) with a small molecule substrate and decamethylferrocene (Cp*₂Fe). Initially, the corresponding reactions of (PhS)₂ and (PhTe)₂ were shown to give the species [Cp*₂Fe][PhSB(C₆F₅)₃] 1 and [Cp*₂Fe][(μ-PhS)(Al(C₆F₅)₃)₂] 2 and [Cp*₂Fe][(μ-PhTe)(Al(C₆F₅)₃)₂] 3, respectively. Analogous reactions with di-tert-butyl peroxide yielded [Cp*₂Fe][(μ-HO)(B(C₆F₅)₃)₂] 4 with isobutene while with benzoyl peroxide afforded [Cp*₂Fe][PhC(O)OE(C₆F₅)₃] (E = B 5, Al 6). Evidence for a radical pathway was provided by the reaction of Ph₃SnH and p-quinone afforded [Cp*₂Fe][HB(C₆F₅)₃] 7 and [Cp*₂Fe]₂[(μ-O₂C₆H₄)(E(C₆F₅)₃)₂] (E = B 8, Al 9). In addition, the reaction of TEMPO with Lewis acid and Cp*₂Fe afforded [Cp*₂Fe][(C₅H₆Me₄NOE(C₆F₅)₃] (E = B 10, Al 11). Finally, reactions with O₂, Se, Te and S₈ gave [Cp*₂Fe]₂[((C₆F₅)₂Al(μ-O)Al(C₆F₅)₃)₂]₂ 12, [Cp*₂Fe]₂[((C₆F₅)₂Al(μ-Se)Al(C₆F₅)₃)₂]₂ 13, [Cp*₂Fe][(μ-Te)₂(Al(C₆F₅)₂)₃] 14 and [Cp*₂Fe]₂[(μ-S₇)B(C₆F₅)₃)₂] 15, respectively. The mechanisms of these SET reactions are discussed, and the ramifications are considered.

Aluminum Hydride Catalyzed Hydroboration of Alkynes

An aluminum-catalyzed hydroboration of alkynes using either the commercially available aluminum hydride DIBAL-H or bench-stable Et₃ Al⋅DABCO as the catalyst and H-Bpin as both the boron reagent and stoichiometric hydride source has been developed. Mechanistic studies revealed a unique mode of reactivity in which the reaction is proposed to proceed through hydroalumination and σ-bond metathesis between the resultant alkenyl aluminum species and HBpin, which acts to drive turnover of the catalytic cycle.

Fluorinated antimony(v) derivatives: strong Lewis acidic properties and application to the complexation of formaldehyde in aqueous solutions

Lewis acidic fluorinated organoantimony(v) derivatives have been combined with phosphines for the complexation and colourimetric sensing of formaldehyde in biphasic water/CH₂Cl₂ mixtures.

As part of our ongoing studies of water tolerant Lewis acids, we have synthesized and investigated the properties of Sb(C₆F₅)₃(O₂C₆Cl₄), a fluorinated stiborane whose Lewis acidity approaches that of B(C₆F₅)₃. While chloroform solutions of this Lewis acid can be kept open to air or exposed to water for extended periods of time, this new Lewis acid reacts with P^tBu₃ and paraformaldehyde to form the corresponding formaldehyde adduct ^tBu₃P–CH₂–O–Sb(C₆F₅)₃(O₂C₆Cl₄). To test if this reactivity can also be observed with systems that combine the phosphine and the stiborane within the same molecule, we have also prepared o-C₆H₄(PPh₂)(SbAr₂(O₂C₆Cl₄)) (Ar = Ph, C₆F₅). These yellow compounds, which possess an intramolecular P→Sb interaction, are remarkably inert to water but do, nonetheless, react with and accomodate formaldehyde into the P/Sb pocket. In the case of the fluorinated derivative o-C₆H₄(PPh₂)(Sb(C₆F₅)₂(O₂C₆Cl₄)), formaldehyde complexation, which occurs in water/dichloromethane biphasic mixtures, is accompanied by a colourimetric turn-off response thus highlighting the potential that this chemistry holds in the domain of molecular sensing.

Lewis acid–base adducts of group 13 elements: synthesis, structure and reactivity toward benzaldehyde

[LGa-M(C₆F₅)₃] (M = B 1, Al 2, Ga 3) reacts with benzaldehyde in different ways including the formation of the zwitterionic species [LGa(C₆F₅){CH(Ph)(OAl(C₆F₅)₂)}] (5).