Metal‐Free Dehydrogenation of Amine‐Boranes by Tunable N‐Heterocyclic Iminoboranes

Abstract

Abstract We report the synthesis of structurally tunable boron complexes supported by N‐heterocyclic imine ligands IPr=N−BR 2 (IPr=[(HCNDipp) 2 C], Dipp=2,6‐ i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 , R=Cl and/or Ph) that have the ability to abstract dihydrogen from amine‐boranes, and instigate their dehydrocoupling. In one instance, mild heating of the hydrogen addition product IPr=NH−B(Ph)HCl releases H 2 to regenerate the starting N‐heterocyclic iminoborane; accordingly IPr=N−B(Ph)Cl can be used as a metal‐free catalyst to promote the dehydrocoupling of MeNH 2 ⋅ BH 3 to yield N‐methylaminoborane oligomers [MeNH‐BH 2 ] x .