Müller versus Gutmann–Beckett for assessing the Lewis acidity of boranes†
Abstract
A 19F NMR spectroscopic probe, p-fluorobenzonitrile, is used to evaluate the relative Lewis acidity of boranes. The resulting scale is compared with the Gutmann–Beckett method which uses triethylphosphine oxide as a 31P NMR probe and both are compared to computed fluoride affinities.