Reactivity of a Cl-boratabenzene Pt(II) complex with Lewis bases: generation of the kinetically favoured Cl-boratabenzene anion.

Complex [(IMes)(2)Pt(H)(ClBC(5)H(4)SiMe(3))] (IMes = 1,3-di(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazolin-2-ylidene) reacts with Lewis bases (L = pyridine, trimethylphosphine, acetonitrile, tert-butylisocyanide) to generate the kinetically favoured ion pairs [(IMes)(2)Pt(H)(L)][ClBC(5)H(4)SiMe(3)]. Over time, the formation of the thermodynamically favoured borabenzene-L adducts is observed with L = pyridine and trimethylphosphine.

Addition of boranes to N-aryl-salicylaldimines: intramolecular hydrogenation of imines.

Addition of boranes to N-aryl-salicylaldimines takes place initially at the reactive phenolic O-H bond to give an activated boron-containing imine and dihydrogen. In some cases a subsequent intramolecular hydrogenation step is observed and the C=N imine bond is reduced to the corresponding amine. Reactions with dimesitylborane in THF are unique in that the reduced amine product is the major product observed in solution.