MATRIX-ISOLATION STUDY OF THE REACTION OF B2H6 WITH CH3OH - SPECTROSCOPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF METHOXYBORANE, H2B=OCH3

Merged jet copyrolysis of mixtures of Ar/B2H6 and Ar/CH3OH followed by trapping into a cryogenic matrix has led to the formation, isolation, and characterization of methoxyborane, H2B = OCH3. The same product was observed in lesser yield following merged jet copyrolysis of B2H6 and (CH3)2O; ethoxyborane was detected following copyrolysis of mixtures of B2H6 and C2H5OH in argon. Of the 18 fundamentals of methoxyborane, 17 were observed, including the boron-oxygen stretch at 1358 cm-1 (B-11). The position of this mode, compared to a range of known compounds, suggests considerable double bond character in methoxyborane. Additional products were detected at higher pyrolysis temperature and higher relative methanol concentration, including methane, boroxin, and dimethyl ether. These observations collectively lead to an overall mechanism for the reaction of B2H6 with CH3OH.