Formation and Metallomimetic Reactivity of a Transient Dicoordinate Alkylborylene

Abstract

Abstract While existing literature has primarily focused on carbene‐stabilized amino‐ and arylborylenes of the form [(carbene)BR] (R = substituent), herein we report the generation and metallomimetic reactivity of the first carbene‐stabilized alkylborylene [(CAAC Me )BCy] (CAAC Me  = 1‐(2,6‐di iso propylphenyl)‐3,3,5,5‐tetramethylpyrrolidin‐2‐ylidene, Cy = cyclohexyl). Furthermore, the transition metal‐like decarbonylation reactions of a borylene complex, [(CAAC Me )BCy(CO)], derived from borylene [(CAAC Me )BCy] and CO, are described. Additional findings described include i) the identification of the coordination stages of the ligand to boron towards forming complexes [(CAAC Me )BCyL] in the reduction route from starting material [(CAAC Me )BCyBr 2 ] and in the photolysis route from carbonyl complex [(CAAC Me )BCy(CO], and ii) insights from quantum‐chemical computations regarding the molecular and electronic structure of the borylene at various stages.