The synthesis of brominated-boron-doped PAHs by alkyne 1,1-bromoboration: mechanistic and functionalisation studies

K. Yuan, R. J. Kahan, C. Si, A. Williams, S. Kirschner, M. Uzelac, E. Zysman-colman, M. J. Ingleson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

The synthesis of a range of brominated-Bn-containing (n = 1, 2) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is achieved simply by reacting BBr3 with appropriately substituted alkynes via a bromoboration/electrophilic C–H borylation sequence. The brominated-Bn-PAHs were isolated as either the borinic acids or B-mesityl-protected derivatives, with the latter having extremely deep LUMOs for the B2-doped PAHs (with one example having a reduction potential of E1/2 = −0.96 V versus Fc+/Fc, Fc = ferrocene). Mechanistic studies revealed the reaction sequence proceeds by initial alkyne 1,1-bromoboration. 1,1-Bromoboration also was applied to access a number of unprecedented 1-bromo-2,2-diaryl substituted vinylboronate esters directly from internal alkynes. Bromoboration/C–H borylation installs useful C–Br units onto the Bn-PAHs, which were utilised in Negishi coupling reactions, including for the installation of two triarylamine donor (D) groups onto a B2-PAH. The resultant D–A–D molecule has a low optical gap with an absorption onset at 750 nm and emission centered at 810 nm in the solid state.
Original languageEnglish
JournalChemical Science
Early online date27 Feb 2020
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 27 Feb 2020

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