A Three-Dimensional Inorganic Analogue of 9,10-Diazido-9,10-Diboraanthracene: A Lewis Superacidic Azido Borane with Reactivity and Stability.

Herein, we report the facile synthesis of a three-dimensional (3D) inorganic analogue of 9,10-diazido-9,10-dihydrodiboraantracene, which turned out to be a monomer in both the solid and solution state, and thermally stable up to 230 °C, representing a rare example of azido borane with boosted Lewis acidity and stability in one. Apart from the classical acid-base and Staudinger reactions, E-H bond activation (E=B, Si, Ge) was investigated. While the reaction with B-H (9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane) led directly to the 1,1-addition on N α upon N 2 elimination, the Si-H (Et 3 SiH, PhMe 2 SiH) activation proceeded stepwise via 1,2-addition, with the key intermediates 5 int and 6 int being isolated and characterized. In contrast, the cooperative Ge-H was reversible and stayed at the 1,2-addition step.