Synthesis and reactivity of boron complexes of pincer ligands

Ruthenium complexes of pyridine-based pincer ligands are powerful small molecule activators and have had far-reaching influence on the homogeneous catalysis landscape. We were curious as to what degree the function of these Ru complexes could be achieved using a boron-pincer complex. This presentation will describe our installation of a variety of pincer diaminopyridine proligands on boron using Br₂BNMe₂ or BrB(NMe₂)₂. Preliminary reactivity studies of the pincer-B complexes will be described.