The first examples of "pre-aromatic" 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine heterocycles have been structurally characterized, enabling the direct comparison of delocalized bonds of 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborines to their corresponding formal double and single bonds in nonaromatic systems. The crystallographic data provide an unprecedented look into the structural changes that occur in six-membered BN-heterocycles on their road to aromaticity, and they establish with little ambiguity that 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborines possess delocalized structures consistent with aromaticity.

The first general synthesis of boron-substituted 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborines is described. The versatile 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine precursor 4 is synthesized through a ring-closing metathesis-oxidation sequence. Treatment of 4 with a wide range of anionic nucleophiles furnishes the desired adducts 5 in good yields. The scope includes hydrogen- and a variety of carbon- and heteroatom-based nucleophiles. Furthermore, the boron-containing isostere (7) of the potent hypolipidemic agent, methyl 2-ethylphenoxyacetate (8), is readily prepared through our method.

The protecting group-free synthesis of a versatile 1,2-azaborine synthon 5 is described. Previously inaccessible 1,2-azaborine derivatives, including the BN isostere of phenyl phenylacetate and BN1 triphenylmethane were prepared from 5 and characterized. The structural investigation of BN phenyl phenylacetate revealed the presence of a unique NH-carbonyl hydrogen bond that is not present in the corresponding carbonaceous analogue. The methyne CH in BN triphenylmethane was found to be less acidic than the corresponding proton in triphenylmethane. The gram-quantity synthesis of the parent 1,2-azaborine 4 was demonstrated, which enabled the characterization of its boiling point, density, refractive index, and its polarity on the ET(30) scale.

“Fused” BN indoles are an emerging class of boron-containing indole mimics, featuring similar geometric structure and electophilic aromatic substitution reactivity as indoles, however exhibiting distinct electronic structure, leading to unique optoelectronic properties. Herein we report the synthesis of the parent N-H BN indole, and provide a head-to-head comparison of the structural features, pKa values, and optoelectronic properties of this hybrid organic/inorganic indole with the classic natural indole.

Aromatic and single-olefin six-membered BN heterocycles were synthesized, and the heats of hydrogenation were measured calorimetrically. A comparison of the hydrogenation enthalpies of these compounds revealed that 1,2-azaborines have a resonance stabilization energy of 16.6 ± 1.3 kcal/mol, in good agreement with calculated values.