Modular Organoboron Catalysts Enable Transformations with Unprecedented Reactivity

Electron-deficient boron-based catalysts with metal-free but metallomimetic characteristics provide a versatile platform for chemical transformations. However, their catalytic performance is usually lower than that of the corresponding metal-based catalysts. Furthermore, many elaborate organoboron compounds are produced via time-consuming multistep syntheses with low yields, presenting a formidable challenge for large-scale applications of these catalysts. Given this context, the development of organoboron catalysts with the combined advantages of high efficiency and easy preparation is of critical importance. Therefore, we envisioned that the construction of a dynamic Lewis multicore system (DLMCS) by integrating the Lewis acidic boron center(s) and a Lewis basic ammonium salt in one molecule would be particularly efficient for on-demand applications because of the intramolecular synergistic effect. This Account summarizes our recent efforts in developing modular organoboron catalysts with unprecedented activities for several chemical transformations. A series of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetranuclear organoboron catalysts was readily designed and prepared in nearly quantitative yields over two steps using commercially available feedstocks. Notably, these catalysts can be modularly tailored by fine control over the electrophilic property of the Lewis acidic boron center(s), electronic and steric effects of the electropositive ammonium cation, linker length between the boron center and the ammonium cation, the number of boron centers, and the nucleophilic anion. This modular design allows systematic manipulation of the reactivity and efficacy of the catalysts, thus optimizing suitable catalysts for versatile chemical transformations. These include the coupling of CO2 and epoxides, copolymerization of CO2 and epoxides, ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of epoxides, and ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of epoxides and cyclic anhydrides. The utilization of mononuclear organoboron catalysts provided a turnover frequency of 11050 h(-1) for the CO2/propylene oxide coupling reaction, an unprecedented efficiency of 5.0 kg of polymer/g of catalyst for the copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide, and a record-breaking catalytic efficiency of 7.4 kg of polymer/g of catalyst for the ROCOP of epoxides with cyclic anhydrides. A turnover number of 56500 was observed at a catalyst loading of 10 ppm for the ROP of epoxides using the dinuclear catalysts. The tetranuclear organoboron catalysts realized the previously intractable task of the copolymerization of CO2 and epichlorohydrin, producing poly(chloropropylene carbonate) with the highest molecular weight of 36.5 kg/mol reported to date. Furthermore, the study revealed that the interaction between the dynamic Lewis multicore, that is, the intramolecular synergistic effect between the boron center(s) and the quaternary ammonium salt, plays a key role in mediating the catalytic activity and selectivity. This was based on investigations of the crystal structures of the catalysts, key intermediates, reaction kinetics, and density functional theory calculations. The modular tactics for the construction of organoboron catalysts presented in this Account should inspire more advanced catalyst designs.

Automated summary

Organoboron catalysts play a significant role in chemical transformations. This study summarizes recent advances in developing organoboron catalysts that combine high efficiency and easy preparation through modular design, optimizing the catalysts for various chemical reactions.