Boron–nitrogen main chain analogues of polystyrene: poly(B-aryl)aminoboranes via catalytic dehydrocoupling

Abstract

The first high molar mass polyaminoboranes with an organic substituent at boron, namely the B-arylated polyaminoboranes [NH₂–BHPh]_n (2a) and [NH₂–BH(p-CF₃C₆H₄)]_n (2b), have been prepared via catalytic dehydropolymerisation. These materials can be considered as inorganic analogues of polystyrene with a B–N main chain. Their synthesis was achieved from B-aryl amine–borane precursors in solution using an [IrH₂(POCOP)] precatalyst.