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Nitrogen-Based Lewis Acids: Synthesis and Reactivity of a Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Nitrenium Cation
Jiliang Zhou1, Liu Leo Liu1, Levy L Cao1
1Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 St. George St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S3H6, Canada.
Abstract:
A room-temperature-stable crystalline cyclic (alkyl)(amino)nitrenium cation 2 features cationic nitrogen atom with a smaller HOMO-LUMO gap compared to that of a 1,2,3-triazolium 5 (an N-heterocyclic nitrenium cation). The low-lying LUMO of 2 results in an enhanced electrophilicity, which allowed for the formation of Lewis adducts with neutral Lewis bases, such as Me3 P, nBu3 P, and IiPr. The N-based Lewis acid 2 also forms an FLP with tBu3 P but subsequently reacts with (PrS)2 to cleave the S-S bond. Both experimental and theoretical results suggest that the Lewis acidity of 2 is stronger than its N3 analogues.
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