Diborenium and Diborynium Cations: Combining Hypovalency, Multiple Bonding, Positive Charge and Unpaired Electrons

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Holger Braunschweig
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 469029582

Compounds with boron-boron multiple bonding are generally highly electron-rich species and strong reductants. However, we have discovered a number of intriguing cationic compounds that contain varying degrees of B–B multiple bonding, namely diborenium (mono/di)cations and radical cations. These compounds combine a range of seemingly incompatible properties such as hypovalency, multiple bonding, positive charge and unpaired electrons. Thus, they are fascinating subjects for fundamental investigation, while their simultaneous electron-rich and -poor character potentially makes them powerful main-group ambiphiles with the ability to activate inert small molecules. This project aims to explore the synthetic scope of these cations as well as their rich further reactivity.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants