The first fully characterized
boron-functionalized heptaphosphide
Zintl cluster, [(BBN)P7]2– ([1]2–), is synthesized by dehydrocoupling [HP7]2–. Dehydrocoupling is a previously unprecedented
reaction pathway to functionalize Zintl clusters. [Na(18-c-6)]2[1] was employed as a transition metal-free catalyst
for the hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones. Moreover, the greenhouse
gas carbon dioxide (CO2) was efficiently and selectively
reduced to methoxyborane. This work represents the first examples
of Zintl catalysis where the transformation is transition metal-free
and where the cluster is noninnocent.
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