Frustrated Lewis pairs: from concept to catalysis

Area of Science:

• Main-group chemistry
• Organometallic chemistry
• Catalysis

Background:

• Frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry utilizes sterically hindered Lewis acids and bases to activate small molecules.
• Traditionally, activation of small molecules like H2 was thought to require metals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advancements in FLP chemistry for small molecule activation.
• To highlight the development of metal-free catalytic processes based on FLPs.

Main Methods:

• Exploration of stoichiometric FLP reactivity with small molecules.
• Extension of FLP reactivity to catalytic applications.
• Investigation of hydrogenation, hydroamination, and CO2 reduction reactions.

Main Results:

• FLPs can activate H2, enabling metal-free hydrogenation of various organic substrates.
• Catalytic hydroamination of alkynes using FLPs provides a metal-free route to enamines.
• Stoichiometric and catalytic reduction of CO2 to methanol, CO, or via hydrosilylation/hydroboration has been achieved using FLPs.

Conclusions:

• FLP chemistry offers a novel strategy for designing main-group compounds.
• This approach facilitates the development of efficient, metal-free catalytic processes.
• FLP chemistry expands the scope of small molecule activation and catalysis.