Activation of H-2 by frustrated Lewis pairs derived from mono- and bis-phosphinoferrocenes and B(C6F5)(3)

Mono- and bis-phosphinoferrocenes are shown to react as frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) to effect nucleophilic aromatic substitution on B(C6F5)(3) and/or activate H-2 to form ferrocenylphosphonium borates.