Lewis base activation of borane–dimethylsulfide into strongly reducing ion pairs for the transformation of carbon dioxide to methoxyboranes

Abstract

The hydroboration of carbon dioxide into methoxyboranes by borane–dimethylsulfide using different base catalysts is described. A non-nucleophilic proton sponge is found to be the most active catalyst, with TOF reaching 64 h⁻¹ at 80 °C, and is acting via the activation of BH₃·SMe₂ into a boronium–borohydride ion pair.