Transition metal-pincer complexes have attracted interest for years due to their utility as reagents and catalysts. Pincer complexes anchored by various elements, such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, have become well-studied and explored. However, a novel class of pincer ligands, bearing a central boron anchor, have recently emerged and gathered attention due to their unique reactivity and properties. One example of a boron pincer complex, (PBP)Ir(H)(Ph)(CO), our group developed has demonstrated exceptional regioselectivity when activating C-H bonds neighboring Lewis basic sites on heteroaromatic substrates. Capture of these Lewis basic substrates has been attributed to the Lewis acidic, transition metal-bound boron functioning as a directing group for selective C-H activation. We will be discussing mechanistic and computational studies that offer insight into boryl pincer ligands as a novel strategy for selective bond activation and potential mechanistic pathways exclusive to boron anchored ligands.

Mechanistic investigation of regioselective C-H activation of Lewis basic substrates by a boryl pincer complex

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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