Benzyl Borane NHC Adducts: Beyond B-C Bond Scission.

Benzyl-substituted boronates and borates are widely employed as mild sources in radical or anionic transfer reactions of benzyl entities. In this process the B-C bond to the benzyl moiety is essentially ruptured. In contrast, reactions with retention of the B-C bond are poorly investigated although several other reactive sites in benzyl-boron systems are clearly inherent. In this respect, the novel reactivity of the representative borane adduct IiPr-BH2 Bn [IiPr=:C{N(iPr)CH}2 , Bn=CH2 C6 H5 ] is demonstrated. Dihalogenation of the BH2 entity is observed with BCl3 and BBr3 , whereas BI3 either affords IiPr-BHI2 or proceeds with borylation of the aromatic phenyl ring to give a hydride-bridged bisborylated species. The photochemical mono- and dihalogenation of the benzylic CH2 group was demonstrated with elemental bromine Br2 . The brominated product IiPr-BBr2 -CHBr-C6 H5 was borylated at the benzylic carbon atom in an umpolung event with BI3 to afford the zwitterion IiPr-BI-CH(BI3 )-C6 H5 .