Boron-Doped Acenes for the Redox Activation of Small Molecules

Transition metals have long been explored for the catalysis of reactions related to energy storage and conversion, as they possess both rich redox chemistry and the ability to bind and activate challenging small molecule substrates like dihydrogen and carbon dioxide. Recently, new approaches to small molecule activation featuring transition-metal-free systems such as Frustrated Lewis Pairs have emerged, but coupling this reactivity to facile electron transfer chemistry remains a challenge. We are developing new molecular platforms featuring 9,10-diboraanthracene that combine facile multielectron redox chemistry with unique reactivity towards small molecules. These systems capture many of the salient features of transition metal complexes by exploiting the unique chemistry of conjugated boron-containing heterocycles.

Speaker: Hill Harman, UC Riverside