H-D Exchange Reaction of Borane-Lewis Base Adducts by Rhenium Polyhydride Complexes

Heating of a benzene-d6 solution of BH3·L (L = PMe3, NMe3) and [ReH7(PPh3)2] resulted in the formation of the deuterated boranes, BH3-nDn·L (n = 0–3). Deuteration of BH3· L with [ReH5(PR3)3] (PR3 = PPh3, PPhMe2) required photoirradiation. The mechanism of the H-D exchange is discussed.