Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) are combinations of bulky Lewis acids and bases that have been widely explored for small-molecule activation and catalysis. Mechanistically, the reaction of the acid, base and substrate involves the collision of three disinct molecules, and so the pre-association of the acid and base to form an encounter complex has been proposed. Previous studies have provided the evidence for the formation of this encounter complex, focusing on the archetypal combinations P(tBu)3/B(C6F5)3 and PMes3/B(C6F5)3, including quantum chemical calculations, molecular dynamics simulations, NMR spectroscopic measurements and neutron scattering. In this talk we will explore the recent discovery that the associated acid and base can absorb a photon to promote single-electron transfer, which has enabled the encounter complex to also be studied by UV-Vis spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, and resonance Raman spectroscopy.

Recent experimental evidence for the encounter complex in frustrated Lewis pair chemistry

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.