.
Angewandte
Communications
DOI: 10.1002/anie.201303166
Frustrated Lewis Pairs
Combinations of Ethers and B(C F ) Function as Hydrogenation
6
5 3
Catalysts**
Lindsay J. Hounjet, Christoph Bannwarth, Christian N. Garon, Christopher B. Caputo,
Stefan Grimme,* and Douglas W. Stephan*
Since its discovery in the 1960s, the electrophilic borane
B(C F ) to effect H activation, thereby affording a remark-
6 5 3 2
[1,2]
B(C F )
has been used extensively in catalysis. Perhaps
best-known as a co-catalyst or activator for ethylene poly-
ably simple and inexpensive hydrogenation catalyst. Indeed,
herein we describe such reactivity. Labile dialkyl ether/
B(C F ) combinations are shown to effect H activation to
6
5 3
[3–7]
merization,
this highly electrophilic species has also found
6
5
3
2
applications within a variety of Lewis acid-catalyzed trans-
formations. For example, in the early 2000s, Piers, Gevorgyan,
and co-workers pioneered its use in hydrosilylation chemis-
catalyze hydrogenations of 1,1-diphenylethylene and anthra-
cene.
The combination of B(C F ) with 2 equiv of Et O in
6
5
3
2
[8–13]
try.
hydrostannylation,
production and derivatization.
Since then, others have developed applications in
CD Cl exhibits two distinct chemical exchange processes by
2 2
[
14,15]
1
silane dehydrocoupling, and silicone
H NMR spectroscopy at reduced temperatures. Analysis of
[
16–25]
[39]
More recently, this elec-
a 2:1 mixture of Et O/B(C F ) between 25 and À908C
2
6
5 3
trophile has been exploited in “frustrated Lewis pair” (FLP)
chemistry, acting as the Lewis acid partner in conjunction with
bases to activate a wide variety of small molecules, including
reveals coalescing Et O methylene signals at À558C that are
2
consistent with lone pair inversion at oxygen in the adduct
°
À1
Et OÀB(C F ) of DG = 10.3 kcalmol . A similar coales-
2
6 5 3
[
26]
[27]
[28,29]
[30]
H , CO , olefins, alkynes, N O,
and NO, among
cence is also observed at À308C, corresponding to the rapid
2
2
31]
2
[
°
others. The application of this borane in FLP or “metal-
exchange of free and coordinated Et O with a DG =
2
[
32]
À1 [40]
free” hydrogenation catalysis has drawn much attention.
Initially, the substrates were limited to imines, protected
nitriles, and aziridines. Subsequently, enamines and silylenol
ethers were also shown to be viable substrates for FLP
reductions. More recently, combinations of B(C F ) with
10.5 kcalmol . In a subsequent experiment, a 1:1 mixture
of Et O/B(C F ) in CD Cl (0.14m) was exposed to 4 atm of
2
6
5
3
2
2
1
HD gas in a J-Young tube at ambient temperature. H NMR
analysis of the mixture after 15 min showed equal intensity
signals for H and HD. Integrations were also consistent with
6
5
3
2
weakly basic triaryl phosphines or triaryl amines were shown
the catalytic isotope equilibration of HD to a 2:1:1 statistical
mixture of HD/H /D (Figure 1B). It is noteworthy that such
[
33]
to be capable of catalyzing hydrogenations of olefins and
2
2
[
34]
polyaromatic systems. B(C F ) was then shown to effect
equilibration was not observed employing solutions of B-
(C F ) alone (Figure 1A).
6
5 3
[
35]
reductions of N-substituted anilines,
pyridines, and N-
6
5 3
[
36]
[37]
heteroatomic species. At the same time, Nikonov et al.
provided experimental and theoretical evidence that B(C F )
5 3
6
alone does not activate H . Interestingly, however, these
2
[
38]
authors and others showed that C H OÀBD undergoes H/
4
8
3
D exchange under pressures of H to produce C H OÀBH . In
2
4
8
3
very recent work, we described the reaction of H with the
2
epoxyborate salt, [tBu PH] [(C F ) BCH(C F )OB(C F ) ],
3
6
5
2
6
5
6 5 3
affording the borane–borate salt, [tBu PH][(C F )BCH -
3
6
5
2
[
31]
(
C F )OB(C F ) ]. This observation suggested the possibil-
6 5 6 5 3
ity that simple oxygen donors might also act in concert with
[*] Dr. L. J. Hounjet, Dr. C. N. Garon, C. B. Caputo,
Prof. Dr. D. W. Stephan
Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto
80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6 (Canada)
E-mail: dstephan@chem.utoronto.ca
Homepage: http://www.chem.utoronto.ca/staff/DSTEPHAN
1
Figure 1. H NMR spectra showing A) HD in the presence of B(C F )
5 3
6
after 60 min and B) complete isotope scrambling of HD by 1:1 Et O/
B(C F ) after 15 min in CD Cl .
2
C. Bannwarth, Prof. Dr. S. Grimme
6
5
3
2
2
Mulliken Center for Theoretical Chemistry, Institut fꢀr Physikalische
und Theoretische Chemie, Universitꢁt Bonn
Beringstrasse 4, 53115 Bonn (Germany)
These observations clearly indicate the ability of Et OÀ
2
B(C F ) to activate dihydrogen, thus suggesting the ability of
6
5 3
[
**] D.W.S. gratefully acknowledges financial support of the NSERC of
Canada and the award of a Canada Research Chair, and S.G.
acknowledges support from the DFG (FOR1175).
this species to act as a hydrogenation catalyst. To assess this
inference, a 0.4m solution of 1,1-diphenylethylene containing
2
0 mol% B(C F ) and 30 mol% ether in CD Cl was
6
5
3
2
2
pressurized with 4 atm of H . Heating to 508C for 48 h
2
2
ꢀ 2013 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 1 – 5
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