Reactivity of boranes with a titanium(iv) amine tris(phenolate) alkoxide complex; formation of a Ti(iv) tetrahydroborate complex, a Ti(iii) dimer and a Ti(iv) hydroxide Lewis acid adduct

Treatment of the titanium(IV) alkoxide complex [Ti(Oi Pr)(OC6Me2H(2)CH2)3N] (2) with BH3.THF, as part of a study into the utility and reactivity of (2) in the metal mediated borane reduction of acetophenone, results in alkoxide-hydride exchange and formation of the structurally characterised titanium(iv) tetrahydroborate complex [Ti{BH4}(OC6Me2H2CH2)3N] (3). Complex (3) readily undergoes reduction to form the isolable titanium(III) species [Ti(OC6Me2H2CH2)3N]2 (4). Reaction of (2) with B(C6F5)3 results in formation of the Lewis acid adduct [Ti(OC6Me2H2CH2)3N][HO.B(C6F5)3] (5). In comparison, treatment of the less sterically encumbered alkoxide Ti(Oi Pr)4 with B(C6F5)3 results in alkoxide-aryl exchange and formation of the organometallic titanium complex [Ti(Oi Pr)3(C6F5)]2 (6). The molecular structures of 3, 4, 5 and 6 have been determined by X-ray diffraction.