Combinations of ethers and B(C6F5)3 function as hydrogenation catalysts.

It works ether way: Labile adducts of dialkyl ethers with the electrophilic borane B(C6F5)3 are shown to scramble HD to H2 and D2 and catalyze the hydrogenation of 1,1-diphenylethylene.

On the interaction of acetone with electrophilic metallocavitands having extended cavities.

We report the synthesis and characterization of tantalum-boronate trimetallic clusters of general formula {[Cp*Ta](3)(μ(2)-RB(O)(2))(3)(μ(2)-OH)(μ(2)-O)(2)(μ(3)-OH)} (R= 4-(C(6)H(5))(C(6)H(4)) (Ta(3)-4Ph), 4-(C(6)H(5)O)(C(6)H(4)) (Ta(3)-4OPh), 4-(C(7)H(7)O)(C(6)H(4)) (Ta(3)-4OBn), 4-(C(8)H(5))(C(6)H(4)) (Ta(3)-4PhEt), and 4-(C(12)H(7))(C(6)H(4)) (Ta(3)-4Napht)). All complexes have been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The trimetallic species feature a large Lewis acid type cavity allowing for substrate binding in both the solid and the liquid state using a unique electrostatic interaction and a hydrogen bond.

Synthesis and structure of indenyl rhodium(I) complexes containing unsaturated phosphines: catalyst precursors for alkene hydroboration.

The indenyl compound (eta(5)-C(9)H(7))Rh(coe)(2) (1, coe = cis-cyclooctene) has been prepared as a thermally stable alternative to the diethylene derivative (eta(5)-C(9)H(7))Rh(eta(2)-H(2)C[double bond, length as m-dash]CH(2))(2). Compound 1 reacts with unsaturated phosphines Ph(2)PR (R = CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH(2), 2; CH(2)CH=CH(2), 3; and C triple bond C-tert-Bu, 4) to give complexes of the type (eta(5)-C(9)H(7))Rh(Ph(2)PR)(2), where bonding occurs through the phosphorus atom. Addition of Ph(2)PC triple bond CPPh(2) to 1 gave the dimer [(eta(5)-C(9)H(7))Rh(micro-Ph(2)PC triple bond CPPh(2))](2) (5).

Structural study of acidic metallocavitands and characterization of their interactions with Lewis bases.

We report the synthesis and characterization of tantalum-boronate trimetallic clusters of the general formula {[Cp*Ta](3)(mu(2)-RB(O)(2))(3)(mu(2)-OH)(mu(2)-O)(2)(mu(3)-OH)} (R = i-Bu (Ta(3)-iBu), C(6)H(5) (Ta(3)-Ph), 2,5-(CH(3))(2)(C(6)H(3)) (Ta(3)-2,5Me), 3,5-(CH(3))(2)(C(6)H(3)) (Ta(3)-3,5Me), and 3,5-(CF(3))(2)(C(6)H(3)) (Ta(3)-3,5CF(3))). Three of these complexes feature a Lewis acid type cavity allowing for substrate binding in both the solid and the liquid state using a unique electrostatic interaction and a hydrogen bond. We also report the synthesis of {[Cp*Ta](2)(mu(2)-MesB(O)(2))(2)[MesB(OH)(O)](2)(mu(2)-OH)(2)} (Mes = 2,4,6-(CH(3))(3)C(6)H(2) (Ta(2)-Mes)).