Use of crown ethers to isolate intermediates in ammonia-borane dehydrocoupling reactions†
Abstract
The presence of 18-crown-6 in the Lewis acid-promoted dehydrocoupling reaction of ammonia borane permits isolation of [(THF)BH2NH3]+ and [BH2(NH3)2]+ cations. [(THF)BH2NH3]+ reacts with Lewis bases to give either boron adducts or by deprotonation at nitrogen to give borazine and ammonia-borane.