IChO 2012 · Theory problem 1

Boron hydrides and other boron compounds

A. Boron Hydrides and Other Boron Compounds

Boron hydride chemistry was first developed by Alfred Stock (1876 - 1946). More than 20 neutral molecular boron hydrides with the general formula \(\ce{B_xH_y}\) have been characterized. The simplest boron hydride is \(\ce{B2H6}\), diborane.

Figure 1

1.1 Using the data below derive the molecular formulae for two other members of this series of boron hydrides, A and B.

Substance State (25 °C, 1 bar) Mass Percent of Boron Molar mass (\(\mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\))
A Liquid 83.1 65.1
B Solid 88.5 122.2

William Lipscomb received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1976 for “studies on the structures of boron hydrides illuminating the problems of chemical bonding.” Lipscomb recognized that, in all boron hydrides, each B atom has a normal 2-electron bond to at least one H atom (\(\ce{B-H}\)). However, additional bonds of several types occur, and he developed a scheme for describing the structure of a borane by giving it a styx number where:

s = number of \(\ce{B-H-B}\) bridges in the molecule,

t = the number of 3-center BBB bonds in the molecule,

Figure 2

y = the number of two-center \(\ce{B-B}\) bonds in the molecule,

x = the number of \(\ce{BH2}\) groups in the molecule.

The styx number for \(\ce{B2H6}\) is 2002.

1.2 Propose a structure for tetraborane, \(\ce{B4H10}\), with a styx number of 4012.

1.3 A boron-based compound is composed of boron, carbon, chlorine, and oxygen. Spectral measurements indicate that the molecule has two types of B atoms, with tetrahedral and trigonal planar geometry, in a 1 : 3 ratio, respectively. These spectra are also consistent with a \(\ce{CO}\) triple bond. The molecular formula of the compound is \(\ce{B4CCl6O}\). Suggest a structure for its molecule.

B. Thermochemistry of Boron Compounds

1.4 Estimate the B-B single bond dissociation enthalpy in \(\ce{B2Cl4(g)}\) using the following information:

Bond Bond dissociation enthalpy (\(\mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}\))
\(\ce{B-Cl}\) 443
\(\ce{Cl-Cl}\) 242
Compound \(\Delta_\mathrm{f}H^\circ\;(\mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}})\)
\(\ce{BCl3(g)}\) −403
\(\ce{B2Cl4(g)}\) −489

C. Chemistry of Diborane

1.5 Give the structure for each numbered compound in the scheme below. Each numbered compound is a boron-containing compound.

Figure 3

NOTES:

i. The boiling point of compound 5 is 55 °C.

ii. Excess reagents used in all reactions.

iii. The freezing point depression for 0.312 g of compound 2 in 25.0 g of benzene, is 0.205 °C. The freezing point depression constant for benzene is \(5.12\ \mathrm{kg\,K\,mol^{-1}}\).

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

Ordinary SMILES cannot directly encode a three-centre two-electron bond. For the explicitly specified borane connectivities below, extended connectivity SMILES use ~ for contacts belonging to such bonds. These strings require the accompanying bonding description. Part 1.1 determines molecular formulae, not unique cage connectivities, so assigning structural SMILES there would require additional information.

  • 1.1: A is pentaborane(11), \(\boxed{\ce{B5H11}}\); B is decaborane(14), \(\boxed{\ce{B10H14}}\).

  • 1.2: Tetraborane(10), \(\ce{B4H10}\), has a folded, butterfly-shaped boron framework: two \(\ce{BH}\) hinge atoms joined by one ordinary \(\ce{B-B}\) bond, two \(\ce{BH2}\) wing-tip atoms, and four hydrogen bridges connecting the hinge atoms to the wing tips. Extended connectivity SMILES: [BH]12~[H]~[BH2]~[H]~[BH]1~[H]~[BH2]~[H]~2.

  • 1.3: The carbon monoxide adduct of tris(dichloroboryl)borane, \(\boxed{\ce{(Cl2B)3B <- CO}}\), with carbon bonded to the central boron and a \(\ce{C#O}\) bond. SMILES: ClB(Cl)[B-](B(Cl)Cl)(B(Cl)Cl)C#[O+].

  • 1.4: \(\boxed{D(\ce{B-B})\approx327\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}\).

  • 1.5: The numbered compounds are:

Number Identification and structure SMILES
1 Trimethyl borate, \(\ce{B(OCH3)3}\) COB(OC)OC
2 Triphenylboroxine, \(\ce{(C6H5BO)3}\): a six-membered alternating B–O ring, with one phenyl group on each boron c1ccccc1B1OB(c2ccccc2)OB(c2ccccc2)O1
3 Boron trichloride, \(\ce{BCl3}\) ClB(Cl)Cl
4 Diammoniate of diborane, \(\ce{[BH2(NH3)2]+[BH4]-}\), also called diammineboronium borohydride; see the condition-dependent alternative below [BH2-]([NH3+])[NH3+].[BH4-]
5 Borazine, \(\ce{B3N3H6}\): a planar alternating B–N ring with one hydrogen on every ring atom [BH-]1=[NH+][BH-]=[NH+][BH-]=[NH+]1

For 4, molecular ammonia–borane, \(\ce{NH3BH3}\), SMILES [NH3+][BH3-], is another possible product of diborane and ammonia under different conditions. The supplied scheme does not specify those conditions; both routes to 5 are balanced below.

Solution

1.1 — Molecular formulae

For a borane \(\ce{B_xH_y}\) of molar mass \(M\) and boron mass fraction \(w_\mathrm B\),

\[ x=\frac{w_\mathrm B M}{M_\mathrm B}, \qquad y=\frac{(1-w_\mathrm B)M}{M_\mathrm H}. \]

Using the conventional atomic molar masses \(M_\mathrm B=10.81\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\) and \(M_\mathrm H=1.008\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}\):

For A,

\[ x=\frac{0.831(65.1)}{10.81}=5.00, \qquad y=\frac{0.169(65.1)}{1.008}=10.9\approx11. \]

Thus,

\[ \boxed{\text{A: }\ce{B5H11}\text{, pentaborane(11).}} \]

For B,

\[ x=\frac{0.885(122.2)}{10.81}=10.0, \qquad y=\frac{0.115(122.2)}{1.008}=13.9\approx14. \]

Thus,

\[ \boxed{\text{B: }\ce{B10H14}\text{, decaborane(14).}} \]

The approximately integral atom counts identify the formulae despite the limited precision of the tabulated data.

1.2 — Tetraborane with styx number 4012

The four digits require:

\[ s=4,\qquad t=0,\qquad y=1,\qquad x=2. \]

Label the boron atoms \(B_1,B_2,B_3,B_4\). A precise description of the required drawing is:

  • Join \(B_1\) and \(B_2\) by an ordinary two-centre, two-electron bond. These are the hinge atoms, each carrying one terminal hydrogen.
  • Place \(B_3\) and \(B_4\) at the two wing tips of a folded butterfly framework. Each carries two terminal hydrogens.
  • Add one hydrogen bridge on each of the four connections \(B_1\!-\!B_3\), \(B_2\!-\!B_3\), \(B_1\!-\!B_4\), and \(B_2\!-\!B_4\).
  • Include no three-centre BBB bonds.

Each bridge is a single three-centre, two-electron \(\ce{B-H-B}\) bond. The butterfly is folded about the central \(B_1\!-\!B_2\) bond; the connectivity string does not specify this conformation.

The hydrogen count is

\[ 2(1)+2(2)+4=10. \]

The structure therefore has four bridges, zero BBB bonds, one ordinary B–B bond, and two terminal \(\ce{BH2}\) groups: exactly 4012.

An electron-count check gives

\[ 3(4)+10=22 \]

valence electrons, accounted for by six terminal B–H bonds, four hydrogen-bridge bonds, and one B–B bond:

\[ 6(2)+4(2)+1(2)=22. \]

1.3 — Structure of \(\ce{B4CCl6O}\)

Four boron atoms in a tetrahedral-to-trigonal-planar ratio of \(1:3\) require one four-coordinate boron and three three-coordinate borons.

Place one boron at the centre, bonded to three peripheral borons. Attach two chlorine atoms to each peripheral boron. Each peripheral boron then has three bonds—two B–Cl bonds and one B–B bond—and is trigonal planar.

The remaining carbon monoxide unit coordinates through carbon to the central boron. This supplies the central boron’s fourth bond and gives approximately tetrahedral coordination:

\[ \boxed{\ce{(Cl2B)3B <- CO}}. \]

Carbon monoxide is named carbon monoxide, SMILES [C-]#[O+]. Its carbon lone pair supplies the donor–acceptor bond.

In an ordinary covalent Lewis representation of the adduct, the central boron carries formal charge \(-1\), oxygen carries \(+1\), and carbon has one B–C bond plus a C–O triple bond. This is the representation encoded by

ClB(Cl)[B-](B(Cl)Cl)(B(Cl)Cl)C#[O+].

It has the required composition, three trigonal-planar peripheral borons, one tetrahedral central boron, and a retained C–O triple bond.

1.4 — B–B bond dissociation enthalpy

Consider the balanced reaction

\[ \ce{B2Cl4(g) + Cl2(g) -> 2 BCl3(g)}. \]

Here \(\ce{B2Cl4}\) is tetrachlorodiborane(4), with structure \(\ce{Cl2B-BCl2}\), SMILES ClB(Cl)B(Cl)Cl.

Because chlorine gas is an element in its standard state,

\[ \Delta_\mathrm fH^\circ\bigl(\ce{Cl2(g)}\bigr)=0. \]

Hence

\[ \begin{aligned} \Delta_\mathrm rH^\circ &=2\Delta_\mathrm fH^\circ(\ce{BCl3(g)}) -\Delta_\mathrm fH^\circ(\ce{B2Cl4(g)})\\ &=2(-403)-(-489)\\ &=-317\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}. \end{aligned} \]

In the net bond accounting, one B–B bond and one Cl–Cl bond are broken, and two additional B–Cl bonds are formed:

\[ \Delta_\mathrm rH^\circ \approx D(\ce{B-B})+D(\ce{Cl-Cl})-2D(\ce{B-Cl}). \]

Therefore,

\[ -317=D(\ce{B-B})+242-2(443), \]

so

\[ \boxed{D(\ce{B-B})\approx327\ \mathrm{kJ\,mol^{-1}}}. \]

This is an estimate because it treats the supplied B–Cl bond enthalpy as transferable between the compounds.

1.5 — Identification of the numbered compounds

Compound 1: trimethyl borate

Methanol replaces the hydridic hydrogens of diborane with methoxy groups, releasing hydrogen. With excess methanol, the balanced reaction is

\[ \ce{B2H6 + 6 CH3OH -> 2 B(OCH3)3 + 6 H2}. \]

Thus 1 is trimethyl borate, COB(OC)OC. Its boron is trigonal planar.

Reaction with phenylmagnesium bromide, followed by hydrolysis, gives the phenylboronic acid shown in the scheme. Phenylboronic acid has SMILES OB(O)c1ccccc1.

A balanced overall equation, representing the magnesium-containing hydrolysis product as magnesium bromide hydroxide, is

\[ \ce{ B(OCH3)3 + C6H5MgBr + 3 H2O -> C6H5B(OH)2 + 3 CH3OH + Mg(OH)Br }. \]

The phenyl group becomes bonded directly to boron, while hydrolysis replaces the remaining methoxy-derived ligands with hydroxyl groups.

Compound 2: triphenylboroxine

Heating phenylboronic acid causes condensation through B–O–B linkages. The freezing-point measurement determines the size of the product.

For a neutral, nondissociating solute,

\[ \Delta T_\mathrm f=K_\mathrm f m. \]

Consequently,

\[ m=\frac{0.205\ \mathrm K} {5.12\ \mathrm{kg\,K\,mol^{-1}}} =0.0400\ \mathrm{mol\,kg^{-1}}. \]

The solvent mass is \(0.0250\ \mathrm{kg}\), giving

\[ n_2=(0.0400\ \mathrm{mol\,kg^{-1}})(0.0250\ \mathrm{kg}) =1.00\times10^{-3}\ \mathrm{mol}. \]

Using unrounded intermediate values,

\[ M_2 =\frac{0.312\ \mathrm g}{n_2} =311.7\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}} \approx312\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Loss of one water molecule per phenylboronic acid unit leaves the repeat composition \(\ce{C6H5BO}\). Its molar mass is approximately

\[ M(\ce{C6H5BO}) =6(12.01)+5(1.008)+10.81+16.00 =103.91\ \mathrm{g\,mol^{-1}}. \]

Thus the number of repeat units is

\[ \frac{311.7}{103.91}=3.00. \]

Therefore 2 is the cyclic trimer, triphenylboroxine:

\[ \boxed{\ce{(C6H5BO)3}}. \]

The balanced condensation is

\[ \ce{3 C6H5B(OH)2 ->[\Delta] (C6H5BO)3 + 3 H2O}. \]

Draw a six-membered, approximately planar ring with alternating boron and oxygen atoms, placing one phenyl substituent on each boron. Each boron is trigonal planar. Its SMILES is

c1ccccc1B1OB(c2ccccc2)OB(c2ccccc2)O1.

Compound 3: boron trichloride

Excess chlorine converts diborane to boron trichloride:

\[ \ce{B2H6 + 6 Cl2 -> 2 BCl3 + 6 HCl}. \]

Thus 3 is \(\ce{BCl3}\), ClB(Cl)Cl, with trigonal-planar geometry.

Its reaction with ammonium chloride at \(200\,^\circ\mathrm C\) produces the B-trichloroborazine drawn in the scheme:

\[ \ce{ 3 BCl3 + 3 NH4Cl ->[200\,^\circ C] B3N3H3Cl3 + 9 HCl }. \]

B-Trichloroborazine has an alternating B–N six-membered ring, with chlorine on each boron and hydrogen on each nitrogen. A charge-separated resonance-form SMILES matching the type of drawing in the question is

Cl[B-]1=[NH+][B-](Cl)=[NH+][B-](Cl)=[NH+]1.

The formal charges and alternating double bonds describe a Lewis resonance form; they do not imply isolated ions.

Compound 4: the ammonia adduct

A conventional product of the diborane–ammonia reaction is diammoniate of diborane, the salt

\[ \ce{[BH2(NH3)2]+[BH4]-}. \]

Its formation is balanced as

\[ \ce{B2H6 + 2 NH3 -> [BH2(NH3)2][BH4]}. \]

The cation is diammineboronium, [BH2-]([NH3+])[NH3+], with two terminal hydrogens and two ammonia ligands arranged approximately tetrahedrally around boron. The anion is borohydride, [BH4-], also tetrahedral.

The covalent SMILES representation places formal positive charges on the coordinated nitrogen atoms and a negative charge on the cation’s boron; their sum is the required \(+1\) cation charge.

On heating, the balanced overall conversion to borazine is

\[ \ce{ 3 [BH2(NH3)2][BH4] ->[\Delta] 2 B3N3H6 + 12 H2 }. \]

The ammonia-reaction conditions are unspecified. A molecular alternative is ammonia–borane, \(\ce{H3N -> BH3}\), [NH3+][BH3-], in which nitrogen donates its lone pair to boron. Both atoms have approximately tetrahedral coordination. Its corresponding reactions are

\[ \ce{B2H6 + 2 NH3 -> 2 NH3BH3} \]

and

\[ \ce{3 NH3BH3 ->[\Delta] B3N3H6 + 6 H2}. \]

Both formulations therefore give the same overall diborane/ammonia-to-borazine stoichiometry.

Compound 5: borazine

Sodium borohydride replaces the three B–Cl substituents of B-trichloroborazine with B–H groups. The ring product is therefore borazine, \(\ce{B3N3H6}\), consistent with the stated boiling point of \(55\,^\circ\mathrm C\).

A balanced equation, with the borane byproduct represented as diborane, is

\[ \ce{ 2 B3N3H3Cl3 + 6 NaBH4 -> 2 B3N3H6 + 6 NaCl + 3 B2H6 }. \]

Draw a planar six-membered ring with alternating B and N atoms and one hydrogen attached to every ring atom. Each ring atom is approximately trigonal planar. Nitrogen-to-boron electron donation produces delocalized bonding; a charge-separated resonance-form SMILES is

[BH-]1=[NH+][BH-]=[NH+][BH-]=[NH+]1.

For completeness, the other species used in these equations have the following names and SMILES. Ionic salts are represented by disconnected ionic components; the Grignard representation omits solvent coordination and aggregation.

Species Name SMILES
\(\ce{B2H6}\) Diborane(6), with two three-centre hydrogen bridges Extended connectivity: [BH2]1~[H]~[BH2]~[H]~1
\(\ce{CH3OH}\) Methanol CO
\(\ce{H2}\) Molecular hydrogen [H][H]
\(\ce{H2O}\) Water O
\(\ce{C6H5MgBr}\) Phenylmagnesium bromide c1ccccc1[Mg]Br
\(\ce{Mg(OH)Br}\) Magnesium bromide hydroxide [Mg+2].[OH-].[Br-]
\(\ce{C6H6}\) Benzene c1ccccc1
\(\ce{Cl2}\) Chlorine ClCl
\(\ce{HCl}\) Hydrogen chloride [H]Cl
\(\ce{NH3}\) Ammonia N
\(\ce{NH4Cl}\) Ammonium chloride [NH4+].[Cl-]
\(\ce{NaBH4}\) Sodium borohydride [Na+].[BH4-]
\(\ce{NaCl}\) Sodium chloride [Na+].[Cl-]

The solution was checked against the official solution.