Oxoborane (RBO) Complexation and Concomitant Electrophilic Bond Activation Processes.

Donor-acceptor complexes of the oxoboranes ClB=O and HOB=O were synthesized and each feature short multiply bonded B=O linkages. The retention of high Lewis acidic character within these encapsulated monomeric oxoboranes was manifested by their ability to support C-F and Si-O bond activation/functionalization. The reported ClB=O complexes can be regarded as synthetic surrogates of the [BO]+ cation, an inorganic analogue of CO.