Behavior of Lewis Bases toward Diphenylberyllium

The behavior of a variety of Lewis bases toward diphenylberyllium has been investigated, demonstrating the high Lewis acidity and electron deficiency of diphenylberyllium. A range of monodentate donors with vastly different steric and electronic properties were used, namely, pyridine, NEt3, THF, THT, and PMe3. The Be-donor bond strength was investigated through application of vacuum, and transformations between the mono- and disubstituted beryllium centers were investigated through stoichiometric addition of additional BePh2. Strong electron donors (N-heterocyclic carbenes) with vastly different steric profiles were then investigated, highlighting that steric interactions are more dominant than electronics. Adducts of bidentate ligands with O-, N-, and P-donating sites were also produced.