Reduction and Rearrangement of a Boron(I) Carbonyl Complex

Abstract

The one-electron reduction of a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC)-stabilized arylborylene carbonyl complex yields a dimeric borylketyl radical anion, resulting from an intramolecular aryl migration to the CO carbon atom. Computational analyses support the existence of a [(CAAC)B(CO)Ar]^.- radical anion intermediate. Further reduction leads to a highly nucleophilic dianionic (boraneylidene)methanolate.