Lewis boron trifluoride

The BF4 ion has a regular tetrahedral configuration. The most important property of boron trifluoride is its great capacity to act as an electron pair acceptor (Lewis acid). Some examples of adducts are ... 

Nitration has also been effected with the complexes from dinitrogen tetroxide and Lewis acidsin the case of boron trifluoride the complex appears to be a mixture of nitronium and nitrosonium tetrafluoroborates. ... 

When mixed with Lewis acids, dinitrogen pentoxide yields crystalline white solids, which were identified as the corresponding nitronium salts by their infra-red spectra. The reaction with boron trifluoride can be formulated in the following way... 

Nitronium tetrafluoroborate was first prepared by adding a mixture of anhydrous hydrofluoric acid and boron trifluoride to a solution of dinitrogen pentoxide in nitromethane. Nitric acid can be used in place of dinitrogen pentoxide, and by replacing boron trifluoride by other Lewis-acid fluorides Olah and his co-workers prepared an extensive series of stable nitronium salts. ... 

The boron atom in boron trifluoride is hybridized to the sp planar configuration and consequently is coordinatively unsaturated, ie, a Lewis acid. Its chemistry centers around satisfying this unsaturation by the formation with Lewis bases of adducts that are nearly tetrahedral sp [ The electrophilic properties (acid strengths) of the trihaloboranes have been found to increase in the order BF < BCl < BBr < BI (3,4). 

Fluorochloro, fluorobromo, and fluoroiodoalkanes react selectively with aromatics under boron trifluoride catalysis to provide chloro-, bromo- and iodoalkylated products (48). The higher reactivity of the C—F bond over C—Cl, C—Br, and C—I bonds under Lewis acid catalysis results in the observed products. 

With the improvement of refining and purification techniques, many pure olefinic monomers are available for polymerization. Under Lewis acid polymerization, such as with boron trifluoride, very light colored resins are routinely produced. These resins are based on monomers such as styrene, a-methylstryene, and vinyltoluene (mixed meta- and i ra-methylstyrene). More recently, purified i ra-methylstyrene has become commercially available and is used in resin synthesis. Low molecular weight thermoplastic resins produced from pure styrene have been available since the mid-1940s resins obtained from substituted styrenes are more recent. 

Friedel-Crafts (Lewis) acids have been shown to be much more effective in the initiation of cationic polymerization when in the presence of a cocatalyst such as water, alkyl haUdes, and protic acids. Virtually all feedstocks used in the synthesis of hydrocarbon resins contain at least traces of water, which serves as a cocatalyst. The accepted mechanism for the activation of boron trifluoride in the presence of water is shown in equation 1 (10). Other Lewis acids are activated by similar mechanisms. In a more general sense, water may be replaced by any appropriate electron-donating species (eg, ether, alcohol, alkyl haUde) to generate a cationic intermediate and a Lewis acid complex counterion. 

Cationic polymerization of coal-tar fractions has been commercially achieved through the use of strong protic acids, as well as various Lewis acids. Sulfuric acid was the first polymerization catalyst (11). More recent technology has focused on the Friedel-Crafts polymerization of coal fractions to yield resins with higher softening points and better color. Typical Lewis acid catalysts used in these processes are aluminum chloride, boron trifluoride, and various boron trifluoride complexes (12). Cmde feedstocks typically contain 25—75% reactive components and may be refined prior to polymerization (eg, acid or alkali treatment) to remove sulfur and other undesired components. Table 1 illustrates the typical components found in coal-tar fractions and their corresponding properties. 

Lewis Acid Complexes. Sulfolane complexes with Lewis acids, such as boron trifluoride or phosphoms pentafluoride (17). For example, at room temperature, sulfolane and boron trifluoride combine in a 1 1 mole ratio with the evolution of heat to give a white, hygroscopic soHd which melts at 37°C. The reaction of sulfolane with methyl fluoride and antimony pentafluoride inhquid sulfur dioxide gives crystalline tetrahydro-l-methoxythiophenium-l-oxidehexafluoroantimonate, the first example of an alkoxysulfoxonium salt (18). 

Catalytic curing agents initiate resin homopolymerization, either cationic or anionic, as a consequence of using a Lewis acid or base in the curing process. The Lewis acid catalysts frequently employed are complexes of boron trifluoride with amines or ethers. 

Catalysts. The choice of the proper catalyst for an esterification reaction is dependent on several factors (43—46). The most common catalysts used are strong mineral acids such as sulfuric and hydrochloric acids. Lewis acids such as boron trifluoride, tin and zinc salts, aluminum haHdes, and organo—titanates have been used. Cation-exchange resins and zeoHtes are often employed also. 

The most important reaction with Lewis acids such as boron trifluoride etherate is polymerization (Scheme 30) (72MI50601). Other Lewis acids have been used SnCL, Bu 2A1C1, Bu sAl, Et2Zn, SO3, PFs, TiCU, AICI3, Pd(II) and Pt(II) salts. Trialkylaluminum, dialkylzinc and other alkyl metal initiators may partially hydrolyze to catalyze the polymerization by an anionic mechanism rather than the cationic one illustrated in Scheme 30. Cyclic dimers and trimers are often products of cationic polymerization reactions, and desulfurization of the monomer may occur. Polymerization of optically active thiiranes yields optically active polymers (75MI50600). 

Lewis acids are defined as molecules that act as electron-pair acceptors. The proton is an important special case, but many other species can play an important role in the catalysis of organic reactions. The most important in organic reactions are metal cations and covalent compounds of metals. Metal cations that play prominent roles as catalysts include the alkali-metal monocations Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, and Rb+, divalent ions such as Mg +, Ca +, and Zn, marry of the transition-metal cations, and certain lanthanides. The most commonly employed of the covalent compounds include boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride, titanium tetrachloride, and tin tetrachloride. Various other derivatives of boron, aluminum, and titanium also are employed as Lewis acid catalysts. 

Neutral compounds such as boron trifluoride and aluminum chloride form Lewis acid-base complexes by accepting an electron pair from the donor molecule. The same functional groups that act as lone-pair donors to metal cations can form complexes with boron trifluoride, aluminum chloride, and related compounds. 

Covalent fluondes of group 3 and group 5 elements (boron, tin, phosphorus, antimony, etc ) are widely used m organic synthesis as strong Lewis acids Boron trifluoride etherate is one of the most common reagents used to catalyze many organic reactions. A representative example is its recent application as a catalyst in the cycloadditions of 2-aza-l,3-dienes with different dienophiles [14] Boron trifluoride etherate and other fluonnated Lewis acids are effective activators of the... 

Boron trifluoride etherate (Lewis acid-Lewis base complex)... 

The product of this reaction, a Lewis acid-Lewis base complex called infonnally boron trifluoride etherate, may look unusual but it is a stable species with properties different from those of the reactants. Its boiling point (126°C) for exanple, is much higher than that of boron trifluoride—a gas with a boiling point of — 100°C—and diethyl ether, a liquid that boils at 34°C. 

Write an equation for the Lewis acid-Lewis base reaction between boron trifluoride and dimethyl sulfide [(0)3)25]. Use curved arrows to track the flow of electrons and show formal charges if present. 

A number of Lewis acids have been utilized in the Pomeranz-Fritsch reaction, including polyphosphoric acid and boron trifluoride-trifluoroacetic anhydride. Under the latter conditions yields were best when electron-donating groups were present in the 3- or 3, 4- position of imine 20, whereas unactivated aldehydes failed to cyclise at all. ... 

As Lewis acid, titanium tetrachloride, boron trifluoride or ethylaluminum dichloride is often used. The stereochemical outcome of the reaction strongly depends on the Lewis acid used. The Sakurai reaction is a relatively new carbon-carbon forming reaction, that has been developed into a useful tool for organic synthesis. ... 

Active Figure 2.5 The reaction of boron trifluoride, a Lewis acid, with dimethyl ether, a Lewis base. The Lewis acid accepts a pair of electrons, and the Lewis base donates a pair of nonbonding electrons. Note how the movement of electrons from the Lewis base to the Lewis acid is indicated by a curved arrow. Note also how, in electrostatic potential maps, the boron becomes more negative (red) after reaction because it has gained electrons and the oxygen atom becomes more positive (blue) because it has donated electrons. Sign in atwww. thomsonedu.com to see a simulation based on this figure and to take a short quiz. 

An electrostatic potential map of boron trifluoride is shown. Is BF3 likely to be a nucleophile or an electrophile Draw a Lewis structure for BF3, and explain your answer. 

The pharmaceutical interest in the tricyclic structure of dibenz[6,/]oxepins with various side chains in position 10(11) stimulated a search for a convenient method for the introduction of functional groups into this position. It has been shown that nucleophilic attack at the carbonyl group in the 10-position of the dibenzoxepin structure renders the system susceptible to water elimination. Formally, the hydroxy group in the enol form is replaced by nucleophiles such as amines or thiols. The Lewis acids boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex and titanium(IV) chloride have been used as catalysts. 

The diastereofacial selectivity of Lewis acid promoted reactions of allylsilancs with chiral aldehydes has been thoroughly investigated58. Aldehydes with alkyl substituted a-stereogenic centers react with a mild preference for the formation of Cram products, this preference being enhanced by the use of boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex as catalyst58. 

The reaction between a-alkoxyaldehydes and allylsilanes is highly stereoselective in favor of chelation-controlled products if tin(IV) chloride is used as the Lewis acid, whereas boron trifluoride gives modest stereoselectivity in favor of the nonchelation-controlled product58. 

An interesting and stereoselective synthesis of 1,3-diols has been developed which is based on Lewis acid promoted reactions of /f-(2-propenylsilyloxy (aldehydes. Using titanium(IV) chloride intramolecular allyl transfer takes place to give predominantly Ag/r-l,3-diols, whereas anti-1,3-diols, formed via an / / /-molecular process, are obtained using tin(IV) chloride or boron trifluoride diethyl ether complex71. 

The use of boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex as the Lewis acid in these reactions promotes silyl group migration and gives rise to the formation of tetrahydrofurans with excellent stereoselectivity82. 

Effective 1,4-asymmetric induction has been observed in reactions between 2-(alkoxyethyl)-2-propenylsilanes and aldehydes. The relative configuration of the product depends on the Lewis acid used. Titanium(IV) chloride, in the presence of diethyl ether, gave 1,4-ijn-products with excellent stereoselectivity with boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex, the amt-isomer was the major product, but the stereoselectivity was less83. 

The stereoselectivity of Lewis acid promoted reactions between 2-butenylstannanes and aldehydes has been widely studied, and several very useful procedures for stereoselective synthesis have been developed. In particular syn-products are formed stereoselectively in reactions between trialkyl- and triaryl(2-butenyl)stannanes, and aldehydes induced by boron trifluoride-diethyl ether complex, irrespective of the stannane geometry66. 

The stereoselectivity of the boron trifluoride induced reactions was initially discussed in terms of open-chain, antiperiplanar transition states66. However studies of Lewis acid induced intramolecular allylstannane-aldehyde reactions are supportive of a synclinal process56,67. 

A -( 1-Chloro- or bromoalkyl)amides are generally moisture-sensitive, unstable compounds, which are often directly used without further purification. Standard Lewis acids such as boron trifluoride-diethyl ether, aluminum(lll) chloride, zinc(II) chloride, tin(IV) chloride and titani-um(IV) chloride are used to generate the /V-acyliminium ion, although sometimes a catalyst is not necessary. 

The Lewis acid, boron trifluoride, enhances selectivity, but not reactivity. 

Dienones, such as 4-[4-(trimethylsilyl)-2-butenyl]-3-vinyl-2-cyclohexenone, are useful precursors for these particular transformations the allylsilane side chain is too short for effective 1,4-addition, but just right for 1,6-addition, resulting in six-ring annulation. Three different Lewis acids can be used titanium(IV) chloride, boron trifluoride diethyl ether complex, and ethylaluminum dichloride. The best chemical yields and complete asymmetric inductions were obtained with ethylaluminum dichloride. 

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