Cooperative carbon monoxide to formyl reduction at a trifunctional PBB frustrated Lewis pair†
Abstract
Twofold hydroboration of the bulky Mes*P(vinyl)2 phosphane with Piers’ borane [HB(C6F5)2] followed by C6F5/H exchange with 9-BBN generated a reactive P/B/BH FLP structure that cleanly reduced carbon monoxide at the trifunctional frustrated Lewis pair framework to the [B]-formyl stage.