Diverse reactivity of borenium cations with >N–H compounds

Abstract

The Ph₂P-stabilized borenium 1 reacts cleanly with PhNH₂, NH₃ and HNTf₂ to give a variety of boron compounds, namely the amino-substituted borenium 2 (substitution reaction at B), the neutral phosphine–borane 3, the mixed P/N-stabilized boronium 4 and the dicationic boron species 6. Remote modulation of the Lewis acidity at boron has been studied by preparing the related iPr₂P-stabilized borenium 7 and reacting it with dihydrogen.