The chemistry of the frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) has emerged as an innovative strategy for small molecule activation. Due to the coexistence of unquenched Lewis acid and base centers in FLPs, they can activate H2, alkynes, CO2 and other substrates in a synergistic manner. While C6F5-substituted organoboranes, such as B(C6F5)3, have been extensively utilized as Lewis acids in FLP mediated small molecule activation, the C6F5 substitutent can only provide limited steric protection for the boron center and sometimes it can suffer from nucleophilic attack from Lewis bases. The utilization of bulky, highly electron-withdrawing fluoromesityl group as the substituent for organoboranes may overcome such shortcomings and provide new reaction modes for small molecule activation. We will present the synthesis and characterization of a series of fluoromesityl-substituted organoboranes. Their application in metal-free H-H, B-H and C-H bonds activation will also be discussed.

Synthesis of fluoromesityl-substituted organoboranes and their application in frustrated Lewis pair chemistry

251st National Meeting (2016)

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