Homoatomic triple bonds between main-group elements have been restricted to alkynes, dinitrogen, and heavier elements of groups 13 and 14.[1-3] Despite numerous computational studies, no ambient-temperature-stable compound with a boron-boron triple bond has been prepared.[4-9] Here we report that reduction of a bis(NHC)-stabilized tetrabromodiborane(4) yields isolable diborene and diboryne compounds.[10] Under carbon-monoxide atmosphere at room-temperature the diboryne 1  is converted into the bislacton 2 which is the first example of a direct carbon-carbon coupling reaction mediated by a p-block element under non-reductive conditions. Figure 1.   X-ray structure of the diboryne 1  and the bislacton 2

Ambient-temperature isolation of a compound with a boron-boron triple bond

245th National Meeting (2013)

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