Conspectus
The coordination of an element–element
σ bond to a
transition metal (TM) is both a fundamentally intriguing binding mode
and of critical importance to metal-mediated bond activation mechanisms
and catalysis, particularly the hotly contested field of C–H
activation. TM σ complexes of dihydrogen (i.e., H–H)
and silanes (H–SiR3) have been extensively studied,
the latter being of interest as models for the (generally unstable
and unisolable) σ complexes of alkanes (i.e., H–CR3). TM σ complexes of hydroboranes and hydroborates (i.e.,
H–BR2, H–BR3, (H−)2BR2) are somewhat less well studied but similarly
have relevance to catalytic borylation reactions that are of high
current interest to organic synthesis. Our two research groups have
made significant contributions to elaborating the family of σ-borane/-borate
complexes using two distinct approaches: while the Ghosh group generally
starts from hydrogen-rich tetracoordinate boron species such as borates,
the Braunschweig group starts from hypovalent and/or hypocoordinate
boron building blocks. Through these two approaches, a wide range
of species containing one or two σ-bound B–H ligands
have been prepared, some with additional chelating donor sites. Over
the past 2 years, the body of work on σ-borane/-borate complexes
from our two research groups has significantly expanded, with a combined
nine published articles in 2019–2020 alone. Very recent work
from the Braunschweig group has led to the synthesis of the first
bis(σ)-borane complexes of group 6 metals, as well as the synthesis
of a series of novel bis(σ)-borane and bis(σ)-borate complexes
of ruthenium and iridium, the former being useful precursors for pentacoordinate
borylene complexes of Ru. Recent work from the Ghosh group has uncovered
a remarkable diversity of structures with σ(B–H)-bound
ligands from the combination of borohydrides and nitrogen/chalcogen-containing
groups and heterocycles. These reactions, while in some cases producing
conventional scorpionate-type chelating products, more frequently
undergo fascinating rearrangements with unpredictable outcomes. This
Account aims to highlight this recent acceleration of research progress
in this area, particularly the distinct but related approaches ofand
complexes produced byour two research groups, in addition
to relevant works from other groups where appropriate.