title: Fluoride Anion Complexation by a Triptycene-Based Distiborane: Taking Advantage of a Weak but Observable C-H⋅⋅⋅F Interaction.
abstract: Fluoride anion complexation impacts a number of areas ranging from sensing to nucleophilic fluorination chemistry. Described here is a new bidentate Lewis acid consisting of two stiborane units connected by a 1,8-triptycenediyl backbone. This neutral derivative captures fluoride with an unprecedented affinity for a neutral, water-compatible Lewis acid. Structural, spectroscopic and computational studies demonstrate that fluoride anion binding is assisted by the formation of a C-H⋅⋅⋅F hydrogen bond which involves a methine group of the 1,8-triptycenediyl backbone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
authors.forename: Chang-Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
authors.forename: François P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Gabbaï
keywords: Lewis acids; antimony; fluoride; hydrogen bonds; molecular recognition