Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.139, No.14, 5047-5050, 2017
Alkene-Carbene Isomerization induced by Borane: Access to an Asymmetrical Diborene
A 2,3-dihydro-1H-1,2-azaborole derivative 2 was converted to a cyclic (alkyl) (amino)carbene (cAAC) via 1,2 -hydrogen migration triggered by boranes to afford cAAC-borane adducts. This procedure allowed us to develop an asymmetrical diborene cAAC center dot(Br)B-=B(Br)center dot IDip 6, which was isolated and fully characterized. The B-11 NMR spectrum, X-ray diffraction analysis and computational studies indicate that pi-electrons on the central B-2 moiety in 6 are unequivalently distributed, and thus polarized. A complete scission of the B=B double bond in 6 was achieved by the treatment with an isonitrile, which led to the formation of a base-stabilized B,N-containing methylenecyclopropane 7.