Two Push-Pull Channels Enhance the Dinitrogen Activation by Borylene Compounds.

Borylenes can bind and activate N2 . In the end-on bridging borylene-N2 complexes, the π orbitals of N2 dominate the σ donation to one of the borylenes whereas the perpendicular π* anti-bonding orbitals of N2 can accept back-donations from another borylene. Thus, there are two opposite and perpendicular push-pull channels which govern the activation of N2 and the BNNB bent geometry. More information can be found in the Full Paper by Y. Mo, et al. on page 2619. Invited for the cover of this issue is Huaiyu Zhang and co-workers. The image depicts the push-pull channels in dinitrogen activation by two borylenes. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201904724.