Synthesis, structural characterization and reactivity of the amino borane 1-(NPh2)-2-[B(C6F5)2]C6H4

The bright red title compound 1 was synthesized from (2-lithiophenyl)diphenylamine and bis(pentafluorophenyl)boron chloride. Its reactions with small acids like H2O and HCl proceeded easily giving zwitterionic compounds. For 1 and its water adduct 2 the crystal structures were determined, the latter featuring an ammonium borate structure containing a short intramolecular hydrogen bond bridge. Treatment of 1 with Jutziʹs acid, [H(OEt2)2][B(C6F5)4], did not result in protonation of the nitrogen, but reaction of 1 with LiH in the presence of 12-crown-4, led to the isolation of the aminoborate [1-(Ph2N)-2-{B(H)(C6F5)2}C6H4][Li(12-crown-4)] (3). Borohydride 3 reacted with Jutziʹs acid to regenerate 1 and liberate hydrogen.