Functionalization of N2 via Formal 1,3-Haloboration of a Tungsten(0) σ-Dinitrogen Complex

Boron tribromide and aryldihaloboranes were found to undergo 1,3-haloboration across one W−N≡N moiety of a group 6 end-on dinitrogen complex (i.e. trans-[W(N2)2(dppe)2]). The N-borylated products consist of a reduced diazenido unit sandwiched between a WII center and a trivalent boron substituent (W−N=N−BXAr), and have all been fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Both the terminal N atom and boron center in the W−N=N−BXAr unit can be further derivatized using electrophiles and nucleophiles/Lewis bases, respectively. This mild reduction and functionalization of a weakly activated N2 ligand with boron halides is unprecedented, and hints at the possibility of generating value-added nitrogen compounds directly from molecular dinitrogen.