Transition-metal-borylene complexes of the type [(OC)(5)M=BR] {M=Cr, Mo, W; R=N(SiMe(3))(2), 1a-3a, Si(SiMe(3))(3), 4a} and [(OC)(4)Fe=B=N(SiMe(3))(2)] (8) were prepared by salt elimination reactions. Synthesis of the latter complex was accompanied by the formation of substantial amounts of an unusual dinuclear iron complex [Fe(2){mu-C(2)O(2)(BN(SiMe(3))(2))}(2)(CO)(6)] (9). The aminoborylene complexes of Group 6 metals were converted to trans-[(Cy(3)P)(CO)(4)M=B=N(SiMe(3))(2)] (5a-7a) by irradiation in the presence of PCy(3). Structural and spectroscopic parameters were discussed with respect to the trans-effect of the borylene ligand and the degree of M-B d(pi)-p(pi)-backbonding. Computational studies were performed on Group 6-borylene complexes. The population and topological analyses as well as the molecular orbital composition are consistent with the presence of both sigma-and pi-type interactions. There are, however, indications that the d(pi)-p(pi)-backbonding in the silylborylene complex is significantly more pronounced than in the aminoborylene complexes.

A series of platinum(II) boryl complexes of general formula trans-[(Cy(3)P)2Pt(Br)(BX2)], including the rare dibromoboryl species trans-[(Cy(3)P)2Pt(Br)(BBr2)], were synthesized by oxidative addition of the B-Br bond of a number of bromoboranes to [Pt(PCy3)2]. X-ray diffraction studies were performed on several such compounds. Comparison of the Pt--Br bond lengths allowed an empirical assessment of the trans-influence of different boryl ligands. A trans-influence scale was thus deduced and the results were compared with those previously computed for compounds of the type trans-[(Me(3)P)2Pt(Cl)(BX2)].

A series of cationic T-shaped 14-electron boryl complexes of the type trans-[(Cy3P)2Pt(B(X)X')]+ (X=Br; X'=ortho-tolyl, tBu, NMe2, piperidyl, Br; XX'=(NMe2)2, catecholato) were synthesized by halide abstraction from trans-[(Cy3P)2Pt(Br)(B(X)X')] (Cy=cyclohexyl) with Na[BArf 4] (Arf=3,5-(CF3)2C6H3), K[B(C6F5)4], or Na[BPh4]. X-ray diffraction studies were performed on all compounds, revealing a subtle correlation between the trans-influence of the boryl moiety and the Pt-H and Pt-C separations. However, no notable agostic C-H interaction with the platinum center was detected. trans-[(Cy3P)2Pt(BCat)]+ (Cat=catecholato), the complex with the shortest Pt-H and Pt-C distances, was treated with Lewis bases (L), forming compounds of the type trans-[(Cy3P)2Pt(L)(BCat)]+, thus proving a decisive influence of the degree of trans-influence exerted by the boryl ligands on the chemical reactivity of the title complexes. Another point that was investigated and clarified is the different behavior of trans-[(Cy3P)2Pt(Br)(B(Br)Mes)] (Mes=mesityl) towards K[B(C6F5)4] with formation of the borylene species trans-[(Cy3P)2Pt(Br)(BMes)]+.

A range of new iminoborylcomplexes of the type [L(n)M-B[triple bond]N-R], which are isoelectronic with sigma-alkynyl complexes [L(n)M-C[triple bond]C-R], was obtained by systematically varying the metal M, the coligands L, and the nitrogen bound substituent R. Selected examples include, for example, trans-[(Cy3P)2(Br)Pt(B[triple bond]N iBu)], which is characterized by a sterically less demanding N-R group or the unprecedented rhodium species cis,mer-[(Br)2(Me3P)3Rh(B[triple bond]NSiMe3)]. All compounds were fully characterized in solution by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and, where appropriate, in the solid state by X-ray crystallography. Subsequent reactivity studies revealed that particularly the combination of smaller N-R groups with Pt-B linkages of increased stability opens up opportunities for novel reactivity patterns of this class of compounds. Within the scope of these study, we inter alia succeeded in synthesizing the unusual bridged boryl species 1,4-trans-[{(Cy3P)2(Br)Pt(B{NH iBu}NH)}2C6H4] and a complex bearing both an acetylide ligand and an iminoboryl ligand, respectively.