Cationic chains of phosphanyl- and arsanylboranes.

Whilst catena-phosphorus cations have been intensively studied in the last years, mixed Group 13/15 element cationic chains have not yet been reported. Reaction of the pnictogenboranes H2EBH2⋅NMe3 (E=P, As) with monohalideboranes lead to the cationic chain compounds [Me3N⋅BH2EH2BH2⋅NMe3][X] (E=P, As; X=AlCl4 , I) and [Me3N⋅BH2PH2BH2PH2BH2⋅NMe3][X] (X=I, VCl4(thf)2), respectively. All of the compounds have been characterized by X-ray structure analysis, NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry.

Selective halogenation at the pnictogen atom in Lewis-acid/base-stabilised phosphanylboranes and arsanylboranes.

The halogenation of Lewis-acid/base-stabilised phosphanylboranes () and arsanylboranes () with CX4 (X=Cl, Br) leads selectively to the substitution of both protons at the pentel atom and the new compounds [(CO)5W(X2PBH2.NMe3)] (:X=Cl, :X=Br) and [(CO)5W(X2AsBH2.NMe3)] (:X=Cl, :X=Br), respectively, are obtained.