Planarized triarylboranes: stabilization by structural constraint and their plane-to-bowl conversion.

Triphenylborane and 9,10-diphenyl-9,10-dihydro-9,10-diboraanthracene, constrained to a planar arrangement with methylene tethers, were synthesized by intramolecular multi-fold Friedel-Crafts cyclization. These compounds were stable toward air, water, and amines, despite the absence of steric protection in the vertical direction with respect to the B atoms, and showed characteristic structural, electronic, and photophysical properties. In addition, upon treatment with a fluoride ion, these compounds underwent a plane-to-bowl conversion in a controlled manner.