Boron Complexes of Pyrrolyl Ligands

Complexes of boron with ligands containing pyrrolyl motifs are surveyed. The ligands range from simple pyrrolyl groups to dipyrroles and linear terpyrroles. Macrocyclic ligands include tripyrroles, which encompass subphthalocyanines, subporphyrins, subtriazaporphyrins, and subtribenzoporphyins, the familiar tetrapyrroles porphyrin and corrole but also N-confused and -fused porphyrins, and expanded porphyrins containing up to eight pyrroles. The role of boron in these compounds depends on the nature of the ligand. Boron acts as a Lewis acid center in simple boron pyrrolyl compounds, and as a structure-directing and templating agent in the cyclic terpyrroles and some of the expanded porphyrins. The difluorboron dipyrrins are well-known as fluorescent dyes. Boron porphyrins and corroles are unusual in containing two coordinated boron atoms rather than the single coordinated atom usually occurring in these ligands, and the proximity of two boron atoms at close quarters in the ligand cavities gives rise to some unusual reaction and redox chemistry. The survey is organized by the number of pyrrole moieties occurring in the ligand and focuses on new and unique chemistry observed for the complexes.