The complexes of group 13 element trispentafluorophenyl derivatives E(C6F5)3 (E = B, Al, Ga, In) with diethyl ether of 1:1 composition have been synthesized and structurally characterized. All compounds are isostructural. Thermal stability studies reveal that at elevated temperatures all complexes decompose with pentafluorobenzene evolution. The geometries and thermodynamic characteristics for the dissociation reactions of the compounds have been computed using three DFT methods. The 1H NMR α‐proton chemical shifts for the coordinated ether in deuteriobenzene and in CD2Cl2 solutions correlate with gas phase dissociation enthalpies of the complexes. Potentially high Lewis acidity of B(C6F5)3 is hindered by the large pyramidalization energy of the acceptor moiety.
Stabilization of hydrogen‐substituted group 13–15 compounds H2EE′H2 (E = B, Al, Ga; E′ = P, As, Sb) by Lewis acids is considered at B3LYP/def2‐TZVP, B3LYP‐D3/def2‐TZVP and M06‐2X/def2‐TZVP levels of theory. It is shown, that for many Lewis acids additional reactivity beyond the DA complex formation with H2EE′H2 monomer is expected. In case of complexation with E(C6F5)3, F/H exchange reactions with group 13 bound hydrides are predicted to be exothermic and accompanied by the activation energies which are smaller than dissociation of the complex into components. In case of complex formation with transition metal (TM) carbonyls, additional O → Al, TM–C → Al interactions are observed, which in several cases lead to cyclic structures. The most promising candidates for the experimental studies have been identified. Synthetic approaches to the most promising LA‐only stabilized compounds are recommended.
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