Partial reduction of trimethoxyborane: An old reaction in a new reactor

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ic50220a016

Forty-fifty percent conversion of trimethoxyborane to HB(OCH₃)₂ was achieved by passing B(OCH₃)₃/H₂ mixtures through a carefully controlled microwave discharge; almost all of the unconverted reactants were recovered. Similar but much less efficient reductions were obtained by exposing the reactants to focused pulses of CO₂ laser radiation [P(26)-P(34) lines of the 9.6-μm band]. We were not successful in reducing trimethoxyborane by activating these mixtures with electrical discharges, with continuous, unfocused laser radiation, or via Hg-photosensitized photolysis. No significant reductions were achieved by any mode of excitation when H₂S, NH₃, C₂H₂, or CH₄ replaced the H₂. However, the reaction B(OCH₃)₃ + SiH₄ = HB(OCH₃)₂ + SiH₃(OCH₃) proceeds smoothly under CW laser irradiation.