The understanding of the mechanism by which frustrated Lewis pairs activate small molecules has been evolving with the discovery that either heterolytic or homolytic bond activation is possible with specific Lewis pair combinations. We recently reported a Lewis acidic aminoborane containing a phenothiazyl substituent and demonstrated its potential to catalytically promote the dehydrocoupling of tin hydrides heterolytically. This result represented the first frustrated Lewis pair system to blur the lines between heterolytic and homolytic reactivity. Prior to our findings only frustrated radical pairs had been reported to homolytically facilitate this reaction. To that end, we discuss the differing reactivity of several Lewis acidic aminoboranes.

Investigating electron transfer in frustrated Lewis pairs

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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