Expanding the FLP Reactivity Paradigm
Prof. Dr. Douglas Stephan
University of Toronto
Department of Chemistry
We have previously exploited Frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) chemistry for the activation of H2, hydrogenation catalysis and the capture of small molecules. More recently we have uncovered evidence of both heterolytic and homolytic reactions for select FLPs affording either ionic or radical reaction pathways. The access to radical pathways has been extended to develop novel air stable main group derived radicals as well as one-electron FLP chemistry. Other efforts in expanding this concept, have focused on the activation of strong bonds. Specifically, we are interested in developing reactions of main group systems with N2 and N2-surrogates as well as C-f bonds. The latter efforts have led to the discovery of a series of main group Lewis acids that are capable of stoichiometric and catalytic activation of C-F bonds, providing highly selective protocols for C(sp2)-C(sp3) and C(sp3)-C(sp3) couplings that are complementary to traditional metal-based protocols for cross coupling. The further potential of these and related main group reagents in synthetic and catalytic synthetic chemistry is considered.