The chemistry of borabenzenes (1986-2000)

This chapter traces the history of the chemistry of borabenzenes from 1986–2000. The chemistry of borabenzenes and boratabenzenes has advanced considerably since Herberich's comprehensive 1986 review. During the intervening years, efficient new methods for the synthesis of these complexes have been developed, thereby making them readily accessible. Through structural and spectroscopic studies, novel modes of bonding, both to transition metals and to main-group metals, have been discovered. On the reactivity front, transition metal–boratabenzene complexes have been shown to serve as effective catalysts for the polymerization of olefins. The exploitation of metal–bora (ta) benzene complexes as catalysts is a particularly exciting area of research, one that will no doubt continue to prove fruitful during the coming years. A number of important advances were made in understanding the structure, bonding, and reactivity of borabenzenes. The first description of an enantiopure borabenzene and of an enantiopure planar-chiral Lewis acid complex is provided. © 2001, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.