Access to B=S and B=Se double bonds via sulfur and selenium insertion into a B-H bond and hydrogen migration.

Stable compounds with a boron-chalcogen (S or Se) valence double bond have been prepared via sequences involving insertion of the chalcogen into a B-H bond and subsequent hydrogen migration. X-ray diffraction studies and density functional theory calculations on the resulting compounds provide convincing evidence for the boron-chalcogen multiple bonding.