An Aluminum Dihydride Working as a Catalyst in Hydroboration and Dehydrocoupling

J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Mar 2;138(8):2548-51. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b00032. Epub 2016 Feb 17.

Abstract

The well-defined aluminum dihydride LAlH2 (L = HC(CMeNAr)2, Ar = 2,6-Et2C6H3) (1) operates in catalysis like a transition metal complex. The catalytic activity of 1 for hydroboration of terminal alkynes was investigated. Furthermore, catalyst 1 effectively initiated the dehydrocoupling of boranes with amines, thiols, and phenols, respectively, to form compounds with B-E bonds (E = N, S, O) under elimination of H2. Quantum mechanical calculations indicate that hydroboration and dehydrocoupling reactions occur via three consecutive cycloaddition reactions involving the activation of the X-H (X = Al, B, C, and O) σ-bonds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't