Issue 25, 2022

Activation of Si–H and B–H bonds by Lewis acidic transition metals and p-block elements: same, but different

Abstract

In this Perspective we discuss the ability of transition metal complexes to activate and cleave the Si–H and B–H bonds of hydrosilanes and hydroboranes (tri- and tetra-coordinated) in an electrophilic manner, avoiding the need for the metal centre to undergo two-electron processes (oxidative addition/reductive elimination). A formal polarization of E–H bonds (E = Si, B) upon their coordination to the metal centre to form σ-EH complexes (with coordination modes η1 or η2) favors this type of bond activation that can lead to reactivities involving the formation of transient silylium and borenium/boronium cations similar to those proposed in silylation and borylation processes catalysed by boron and aluminium Lewis acids. We compare the reactivity of transition metal complexes and boron/aluminium Lewis acids through a series of catalytic reactions in which pieces of evidence suggest mechanisms involving electrophilic reaction pathways.

Graphical abstract: Activation of Si–H and B–H bonds by Lewis acidic transition metals and p-block elements: same, but different

Article information

Article type
Perspective
Submitted
25 Apr 2022
Accepted
18 May 2022
First published
06 Jun 2022
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2022,13, 7392-7418

Activation of Si–H and B–H bonds by Lewis acidic transition metals and p-block elements: same, but different

P. Ríos, A. Rodríguez and S. Conejero, Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 7392 DOI: 10.1039/D2SC02324E

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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