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.

The Rise of 1,4-BN-Heteroarenes: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications

BN-heteroarenes, which employ both boron and nitrogen in aromatic hydrocarbons, have gained great attention in the fields of organic chemistry and materials science. Nevertheless, the extensive studies on BN-heteroarenes are largely limited to 1,2-azaborine-based compounds with B-N covalent bonds, whereas 1,3- and 1,4-BN-heteroarenes are relatively rare due to their greater challenge in the synthesis. Recently, significant progresses have been achieved in the synthesis and applications of BN-heteroarenes featuring 1,4-azaborines, especially driven by their significant potential as multiresonant thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR-TADF) materials. Therefore, it is timely to review these advances from the chemistry perspective. This review summarizes the synthetic methods and recent achievements of 1,4-azaborine-based BN-heteroarenes and discusses their unique properties and potential applications of this emerging class of materials, highlighting the value of 1,4-BN-heteroarenes beyond MR-TADF materials. It is hoped that this review would stimulate the conversation and cooperation between chemists who are interested in azaborine chemistry and materials scientists working in the fields of organic optoelectronics, metal catalysis, and carbon-based nanoscience etc.

Catalytic aerobic photooxidation of triarylphosphines using dibenzo-fused 1,4-azaborines

Although dibenzo-fused 1,4-heteroaromatics are utilized as strongly reducing photocatalysts in organic synthesis and polymerization, they have rarely been employed in catalytic photooxidation. Moreover, to date, their boron-analogs, dibenzo-fused 1,4-azaborines (DBABs), have not been applied in photocatalysis despite their promising potential as photocatalysts. Accordingly, herein, aerobic photooxidation of triarylphosphines (Ar₃P) was performed using DBABs as photocatalysts. The reaction smoothly proceeded in an aprotic solvent, and phosphine oxides were obtained in appropriate yields. Density functional theory calculations suggested that DBAB captured and activated phosphadioxirane intermediates, which were generated by the interaction of Ar₃P with ¹O₂, at the Lewis acidic boron center.

1,4-Azaborines: Origin, Modern Synthesis, and Applications as Optoelectronic Materials

This short review summarizes the origins and recent progress in 1,4-azaborine research, focusing on synthetic methodologies. Academic laboratories have made significant efforts to generate boron-nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic compounds that mimic arenes. 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-Azaborine motifs have provided breakthrough molecules in applications ranging from medicines to materials. Owing to recent advances in polyaromatic 1,4-azaborine synthesis and applications in industry, the research field is currently undergoing a renaissance. Photo- and electroluminescent properties driven by distinct structural variations are key components in the design of novel 1,4-azaborine structures. In this review, seminal reports on the synthesis of simple 1,4-azaborines to complex π-extended structures are briefly highlighted together along with key optoelectronic properties.

1 Introduction

2 Non-Fused 1,4-Azaborines

3 Monobenzo-Fused 1,4-Azaborines

4 Dibenzo-Fused 1,4-Azaborines and Their Derivatives

5 Ladder-Type 1,4-Azaborines

6 Complex 1,4-Azaborines

7 Optoelectronic Properties of Key 1,4-Azaborines

8 Conclusion and Outlook