Isolation of Stable Borepin Radicals and Anions
Kimberly K. Hollister, Wenlong Yang, Ranajit Mondol, Kelsie E. Wentz, Andrew Molino, Aishvaryadeep Kaur, Diane A. Dickie, Gernot Frenking, Sudip Pan, David J. D. Wilson, Robert J. Gilliard
Abstract
Abstract Borepin, a 7‐membered boron‐containing heterocycle, has become an emerging molecular platform for the development of new materials and optoelectronics. While electron‐deficient borepins are well‐established, reduced electron‐rich species have remained elusive. Herein we report the first isolable, crystalline borepin radical ( 2 a , 2 b ) and anion ( 3 a , 3 b ) complexes, which have been synthesized by potassium graphite (KC 8 ) reduction of cyclic(alkyl)(amino) carbene‐dibenzo[b,d]borepin precursors. Borepin radicals and anions have been characterized by EPR or NMR, elemental analysis, X‐ray crystallography, and cyclic voltammetry. In addition, the bonding features have been investigated computationally using density functional theory.