Synthesis and Characterization of a New Guanidine–Borane Complex and a Dinuclear Boron(II) Hydride with Bridging Guanidinate Ligands

We report the synthesis and structural characterization of the new monomeric borane complex H 3 B · hppH (hppH = 1,3,4,6,7,8‐hexahydro‐2 H ‐pyrimido[1,2‐ a ]pyrimidine), which represents the first example of a structurally characterized 1:1 complex between hppH and a group 13 element hydride. Significant intramolecular and, in the crystalline phase, intermolecular H ··· H contacts are established in this complex. It is shown that the complex can be used as a precursor to new dinuclear boron(II) compounds featuring a B–B single bond. Thus H 2 elimination followed by dimerization of H 3 B · hppH leads to [(hpp)BH] 2 with two bridging hpp units. The structural details derived from X‐ray diffraction measurements are reported.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)