Direct Phenylation of nido-B10H14

J Org Chem. 2022 Aug 5;87(15):10034-10043. doi: 10.1021/acs.joc.2c00997. Epub 2022 Jul 15.

Abstract

As a preliminary step toward its condensation into the porous polymer Activated Borane, the thermolysis of nido-B10H14 (1) in benzene at 200 °C results in the generation of a number of phenylated borane molecular species. The principal product is the new monophenylated compound 5-Ph-nido-B10H13 (2), isolated in 48% yield (based on consumption of 1) and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, NMR, and mass spectrometry along with other minor products, such as 6-Ph-nido-B10H13 (3), for which we observe UV-light-driven conversion into 2 via a "vertex-flip" mechanism, and novel diphenylated 5,8-Ph2-nido-B10H12 (4). Together, the phenylated derivatives provide a valuable insight into the assembly of Activated Borane and ultimately inform on its structure. The new compounds also display strong blue fluorescence in both solid-state and in solution and are the first examples of the direct phenylation of nido-B10H14, thus opening the door to the straight-forward synthesis of highly luminescent organic-borane hybrid systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Boranes* / chemistry
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Substances

  • Boranes