Small molecule activation by frustrated Lewis pairs

Dalton Trans. 2013 Feb 21;42(7):2431-7. doi: 10.1039/c2dt32525j. Epub 2012 Dec 4.

Abstract

A series of frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) based on the Lewis acids tris(perchloroaryl)borane (BAr(Cl)), and tris(2,2',2''-perfluorobiphenyl)borane (PBB) and trialkylphosphines were prepared; their ability to effect the heterolytic cleavage of dihydrogen, insert carbon dioxide into the borohydride, and reduce the resulting formatoborate to methanol were studied. Additionally, the insertion of CO(2) into a B-OH bond is explored with the ultimate aim of developing a homogeneous, catalytic preparation of carbonates. The compound [PBB-OH][H-P((t)Bu)(3)] was characterised by single crystal X-ray crystallography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boranes / chemical synthesis*
  • Boranes / chemistry
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Lewis Acids / chemical synthesis*
  • Lewis Acids / chemistry
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Phosphines / chemical synthesis*
  • Phosphines / chemistry

Substances

  • Boranes
  • Lewis Acids
  • Phosphines