Premium
Synthesis and Reactions of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes
Author(s) -
Curran Dennis P.,
Solovyev Andrey,
Makhlouf Brahmi Malika,
Fensterbank Louis,
Malacria Max,
Lacôte Emmanuel
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201102717
Subject(s) - boranes , carbene , chemistry , borane , lewis acids and bases , organic synthesis , organic chemistry , radical , reactivity (psychology) , reagent , reactive intermediate , catalysis , combinatorial chemistry , boron , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Boranes are widely used Lewis acids and N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are popular Lewis bases, so it is remarkable how little was known about their derived complexes until recently. NHC‐boranes are typically readily accessible and many are so stable that they can be treated like organic compounds rather than complexes. They do not exhibit “borane chemistry”, but instead are proving to have a rich chemistry of their own as reactants, as reagents, as initiators, and as catalysts. They have significant potential for use in organic synthesis and in polymer chemistry. They can be used to easily make unusual complexes with a broad spectrum of functional groups not usually seen in organoboron chemistry. Many of their reactions occur through new classes of reactive intermediates including borenium cations, boryl radicals, and even boryl anions. This Review provides comprehensive coverage of the synthesis, characterization, and reactions of NHC‐boranes.