Amine-Boranes Bearing Borane-Intolerant Functionalities

Amine-boranes have been known for over eight decades and have found several applications in industry and academia alike. Typically, amine-boranes are produced through reacting an amine with borane-based complexes. However, various common functional groups, such as hydroxyl, thiol, ester, etc., are reactive to these borane-based complexes. As a result, preparing amines-boranes bearing functional groups is a major challenge for chemists around the world. A method to synthesize these functional groups would expand borane's properties as an amine-protecting group and provide unique applications in both organic and materials chemistry.

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a novel synthesis of known, as well as inaccessible, functional group bearing amine-boranes, utilizing inexpensive and widely available reagents. This method is capable of producing amines bearing borane-reactive functionalities such as alkene, alkyne, hydroxyl, thiol, ester, amide, nitrile, and nitro. This technology will aid in the progress of materials chemistry and organic chemistry research.

Advantages:

-Production of amine-boranes is safer and less expensive

-Increased supply of amine-boranes

-Uses water and baking soda as reagents

-Works for previously inaccessible amine-boranes

-Utilizes nonflammable reagents

-Process performed in an open-air environment without the need for inert conditions

Potential Applications:

-Medicine

-Energy storage

-Batteries

-Hydrogen storage

-Hydrogen to power electric vehicles, electronic devices, and in rocket propellants

-Material chemistry R&D

-Organic chemistry R&D

TRL: 7

Intellectual Property:

Keywords: Amine-boranes synthesis, functional group bearing amine-boranes, borane-reactive functionalities, organic chemistry, materials chemistry, amine-protecting group, hydrogen storage, energy storage, inexpensive reagents, nonflammable reagents