Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLP) are sterically hindered acid-base pairs unable to form an adduct, generating enough “frustration energy” to break molecular hydrogen and transfer it to an unsaturated compound thus serving as efficient hydrogenating agents. Previous results from our lab have shown that microwave irradiation can dramatically reduce reaction times for the FLP reduction aldehydes and ketones. The mechanism for this transformation is not fully understood. We intend to determine whether the reaction involves single electron transfer species by using radical clock molecules that can give definitive products if radicals are present. Preliminary data suggests a two-electron transfer, but optimized conditions for reaction completion and product characterization will be presented herein.

Microwave-assisted hydrogenations with frustrated Lewis pairs: Mechanistic insight

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