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Dialkylaluminium amides iBu2Al(TMP) and iBu2Al(HMDS) can perform catalytic hydroboration of ketones with pinacolborane to form the expected boronic esters. However, repeating the same reactions stoichiometrically without a ketone leads unexpectedly to ring‐opening of pinacolborane and insertion of its open chain into the Al−N(amido) bond. To date there has been limited knowledge on decomposition pathways of HBpin despite its prominent role in hydroboration chemistry. X‐ray crystallography shows these mixed Al−B products [iBu2Al{OC(Me)2C(Me)2O}B(H)(NR2)]2 (NR2=TMP or HMDS) form dimers with an (AlO)2 core and terminal B−N bonds. Since the bond retention (B−H) and bond breaking (B−O) in these transformations seemed surprising, DFT calculations run using M11/6‐31G(d,p) gave an energy profile consistent with a σ‐bond metathesis mechanism where London dispersion interactions between iBu and (amide) Me groups play an important stabilising role in the final outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bimetallic lithium aluminates and neutral aluminum counterparts are compared as catalysts in hydroboration reactions with aldehydes, ketones, imines and alkynes. Possessing Li–Al cooperativity, ate catalysts are found to be generally superior. Catalytic activity is also influenced by the ligand set, alkyl and/or amido. Devoid of an Al−H bond, iBu2Al(TMP) operates as a masked hydride reducing benzophenone through a β‐Η transfer process. This catalyst library therefore provides an entry point into the future design of Al catalysts targeting substrate specific transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of heteroleptic monoamido‐monohydrido‐dialkylaluminate complexes of general formula [iBu2AlTMPHLi⋅donor] were synthesized and characterised in solution and in the solid state. Applying these complexes in catalytic hydroboration reactions with representative aldehydes and ketones reveals that all are competent, however a definite donor substituent effect is discernible. The bifunctional nature of the complexes is also probed by assessing their performance in metallation of a triazole and phenylacetylene and addition across pyrazine. These results lead to an example of phenylacetylene hydroboration, which likely proceeds via deprotonation, rather than insertion as observed with the aldehydes and ketones. Collectively, the results emphasise that reactivity is strongly influenced by both the mixed‐metal constitution and mixed‐ligand constitution of the new aluminates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperativity between the Li and Al centres is implicated in catalytic hydroboration reactions of aldehydes and ketones with pinacolborane via heteroleptic lithium diamidodihydridoaluminates. In addition to implementing hydroalumination, these versatile heteroleptic ates can also perform as amido bases as illustrated with an acidic triazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]