Boron-Doped Pentacenes: Isolation of Crystalline 5,12- and 5,7-Diboratapentacene Dianions

Barker, J. E.; Obi, A. D.; Dickie, D. A.; Gilliard Jr., R. J. Boron-Doped Pentacenes: Isolation of Crystalline 5,12- and 5,7-Diboratapentacene Dianions. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2023, 145, 2028-2034.

Abstract

The syntheses, molecular structures, reactivities, and computational assessment of dipotassium diboratapentacene isomers are described (1 and 2). These compounds represent the first examples of aromatized diboraacenes where the boron atoms are spatially separated in different rings of the acene framework. Both 1 and 2 react with carbon dioxide (CO2) via diastereoselective carboxylation of the pentacene backbone that likely proceeds by a frustrated Lewis pair-like mechanism. The placement of the boron atoms and the reactivity studies provide a platform for later stage functionalization of diboraacenes beyond the central ring of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon core.

Last updated on 02/02/2023