title: Poly(iminoborane)s: An Elusive Class of Main-Group Polymers?
abstract: The significance of inorganic main-group polymers is demonstrated most clearly by the commercial relevance of polysiloxanes (silicones). Organoboron-based materials such as π-conjugated organoborane polymers and BN-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are currently attracting considerable attention. Surprisingly, poly(iminoborane)s (PIBs; [BRNR']n), that is, the parent unsaturated BN polymers, which are formally isoelectronic to polyacetylene, have not been convincingly characterized thus far. Herein, we present the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of a linear oligo(iminoborane), which comprises a chain of 12-14 BN units on average. With our synthetic approach, unwanted side reactions that result in borazine formation are effectively suppressed. Supporting DFT and TD-DFT calculations provide deeper insight into the microstructure and the electronic structure of the oligomer.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anorganische Chemie, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52056, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ozan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ayhan
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Chemie, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eckert
authors.affiliation: Institut für Physikalische Chemie, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 2, 52056, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Felix A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Plamper
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anorganische Chemie, RWTH Aachen University, Landoltweg 1, 52056, Aachen, Germany. holger.helten@ac.rwth-aachen.de.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Helten
keywords: B−N bonds; boron; hybrid materials; inorganic polymers; main-group polymers