Authentic Sn═B-Double Bonds in Polar Stannaborene Derivatives

J Am Chem Soc. 2023 Jun 14;145(23):12452-12458. doi: 10.1021/jacs.3c03744. Epub 2023 May 31.

Abstract

We report on the synthesis of an authentic Sn═B-moiety realized in a stannaborenyl anion and stannaborenium cation. Starting with an oxidative addition of boron tribromide to a stannylene-phosphine Lewis pair [o-C6H4(Ar*BrSn-BBr2-PPh2)] (2a) [Ar* = C6H3(2,6-Trip)2, Trip = 2,4,6-C6H2iPr3] was synthesized. Reduction of 2a with magnesium yields the Grignard-type stannaborene [o-C6H4(Ar*Sn═B{PPh2}MgBr{thf})]2 (3)2 featuring a Sn═B double bond and a B-Mg interaction. Following an alternative protocol, hydride substitution at 2a yields the tinhydride [o-C6H4(Ar*HSn-BBr2-PPh2)] (4a). HBr elimination of 4a in reaction with MeNHC (MeNHC = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene) gives the carbene and phosphine stabilized stannyl-borylene [o-C6H4(Ar*BrSn-B{PPh2}{MeNHC})] (5) after simultaneous bromide transfer from boron to tin. In reaction of 5 with Li[Al(OC{CF3}3)4] or Na[BArF4] in a mixture of o-DFB/benzene a stannaborene [o-C6H4(Ar*Sn═B{PPh2}{MeNHC})]+ [6] stabilized by the respective weakly coordinating anion was isolated (ArF = C6H3-3,5-(CF3)2, o-DFB = o-difluorobenzene). The phosphine and NHC-supported stannaborenium cation 6 adds ammonia at room temperature under splitting of a N-H bond and formation of Sn-NH2 and B-H bonds to give [o-C6H4(Ar*{H2N}Sn-BH{PPh2}{MeNHC})]+ (7).