Boron is the lightest element having an electron in a p-orbital in its ground state. But, unlike most other p-elements, it rarely obeys the octet rule and usually places only six electrons in the valence shell, leading to some interesting chemical properties of boron compounds in terms of chemical reactivity and influencing materials properties. In a collaboration with the group of Rene Frank from the Technical University in Braunschweig we design, model and synthesize new boron-containing compounds and ligands stabilizing unusual bonds between boron and other elements for a potential use in fine chemistry and catalysis. Here we will highlight the findng in this area made possible by collaboration between the experimental and theoretical chemists.

H. Dolati, L. Denker, B. Trzaskowski, R. Frank, “Superseding ß-Diketiminato Ligands: An Amido Imidazoline-2-Imine Ligand Stabilizes the Exhaustive Series of B=X Boranes (X = O, S, Se, Te)”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 60, 4633-4639 (2021).

L. Denker, B. Trzaskowski, R. Frank, ““Give Me Five” – An Amino Im-idazoline-2-imine Ligand Stabilises First Neutral Five-membered Cyclic Triel(I) Carbenoides”, ChemComm., 57, 2816-2819 (2021).

P. Martinez, B. Trzaskowski, “Structural and Electronic Properties of Boranes Containing Boron-Chalcogen Multiple Bonds and Stabilized by Amido Imidazoline-2-imine Ligands”, Chem. Eur. J., 28, e202103997 (2022).