Synthesis and structures of boron dihalides supported by the C(6)F(5)-substituted beta-diketiminate ligand [HC(CMe)(2)(NC(6)F(5))(2)](-).

The new boron dihalides of the type [HC(CMe)(2)(NC(6)F(5))(2)]BX(2) (X = Cl, Br, I) have been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Of the various synthetic approaches explored, the best method in terms of yield and product purity involves the silylhalide elimination reaction of the silylated iminoamine [HC(CMe)(2)(NC(6)F(5))(N{SiMe(3)}C(6)F(5))] with BX(3). Chloroborenium salt [HC(CMe)(2)(NC(6)F(5))(2)BCl][AlCl(4)] was prepared by treatment of [HC(CMe)(2)(NC(6)F(5))(2)]BCl(2) with AlCl(3) in CH(2)Cl(2) solution. This salt was also structurally authenticated and represents the first such data for a beta-diketiminate-supported haloborenium cation.