title: Metal-Free Dehydrogenation of Amine-Boranes by Tunable N-Heterocyclic Iminoboranes.
abstract: We report the synthesis of structurally tunable boron complexes supported by N-heterocyclic imine ligands IPr=N-BR2(IPr=[(HCNDipp)2C], Dipp=2,6-iPr2C6H3, R=Cl and/or Ph) that have the ability to abstract dihydrogen from amine-boranes, and instigate their dehydrocoupling. In one instance, mild heating of the hydrogen addition product IPr=NH-B(Ph)HCl releases H2to regenerate the starting N-heterocyclic iminoborane; accordingly IPr=N-B(Ph)Cl can be used as a metal-free catalyst to promote the dehydrocoupling of MeNH2⋅BH3to yield N-methylaminoborane oligomers [MeNH-BH2]x.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Melanie W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Nathan R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Paisley
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G2, Canada. erivard@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rivard
keywords: N-heterocyclic imines; boranes; homogeneous catalysis; main-group elements; transfer dehydrogenation