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Updated: Jul 23, 2025

Characterizing Lewis Pairs Using Titration Coupled with In Situ Infrared Spectroscopy
Published on: February 20, 2020
Insights into Single-Electron-Transfer Processes in Frustrated Lewis Pair Chemistry and Related Donor-Acceptor
Lars J C van der Zee1, Sanjukta Pahar2, Emma Richards2
1Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 94157, 1090 GD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
The activation and utilization of substrates mediated by Frustrated Lewis Pairs (FLPs) was initially believed to occur solely via a two-electron, cooperative mechanism. More recently, the occurrence of a single-electron transfer (SET) from the Lewis base to the Lewis acid was observed, indicating that mechanisms that proceed via one-electron-transfer processes are also feasible. As such, SET in FLP systems leads to the formation of radical ion pairs, which have recently been more frequently observed. In this review, we aim to discuss the seminal findings regarding the recently established insights into the SET processes in FLP chemistry as well as highlight examples of this radical formation process. In addition, applications of reported main group radicals will also be reviewed and discussed in the context of the understanding of SET processes in FLP systems.
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