Controlled hydroboration of imines using Me2S-BH3 has been developed as an alternative approach toward
the
synthesis of both mono- and acyclic bis-aminoboranes. One of the key
synthetic steps involved isolation of the imine-BH3 adducts
followed by their conversion to the corresponding mono-aminoboranes
(R2N-BH2; R = alkyl, aryl). This particular
transformation could be achieved thermally, but the best results in
terms of product purities were obtained in the presence of catalytic
amounts of a β-diketiminate stabilized aluminum complex (i.e.,
LAl(OTf)2/Na[BArCl
4]; Tf = O2SCF3, L = CH(CCH3)2(N(2,6-iPr2-C6H3))2, ArCl = 3,5-Cl2-C6H3). Symmetrical
bis-aminoboranes ((R2N)2BH) could be prepared
by mixing either imine-BH3 adducts or mono-aminoboranes
with the corresponding free imines under the catalytic reaction conditions.
Nevertheless, the most appropriate approach for the synthesis of unsymmetrical
bis-aminoboranes was realized when imines were subjected to controlled
hydroboration using mono-aminoboranes in the presence of the aluminum
catalyst. Even though a majority of unsymmetrical bis-aminoboranes
underwent the expected redistribution to their corresponding mono-aminoboranes,
this process was averted in a few examples, which was attributed to
the enhanced steric properties of the amino substituents.