Frustrated Lewis pair-ligated tetrelenes

Dalton Trans. 2023 Jan 17;52(3):774-786. doi: 10.1039/d2dt03807b.

Abstract

The reactivity of [PB{SiX2}] (X = Cl, Br; PB = 1,2-iPr2(C6H4)BCy2; E = Si, Ge) adducts is described, with an initial focus on reduction attempts to access [PB{E}]x species; however, in all cases only free PB ligand was formed as the soluble product. Moreover, computations were performed to evaluate the energy penalty associated with EX2 dissociation from the PB chelates. Moving up the periodic table, the formal methylene adduct [PB{CH2}] was isolated and its reactivity was compared with its heavier element congeners of [PB{EH2}]. We also introduce new phosphine-borane frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chelates and explore preliminary coordination chemistry with these ligands.