Metal‐Free Intermolecular C−H Borylation of N‐Heterocycles at B−B Multiple Bonds

Carbene‐stabilized diborynes of the form LBBL (L=N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) or cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene (CAAC)) induce rapid, high yielding, intermolecular ortho‐C−H borylation at N‐heterocycles at room temperature. A simple pyridyldiborene is formed when an NHC‐stabilized diboryne is combined with pyridine, while a CAAC‐stabilized diboryne leads to activation of two pyridine molecules to give a tricyclic alkylideneborane, which can be forced to undergo a further H‐shift resulting in a zwitterionic, doubly benzo‐fused 1,3,2,5‐diazadiborinine by heating. Use of the extended N‐heteroaromatic quinoline leads to a borylmethyleneborane under mild conditions via an unprecedented boron‐carbon exchange process. Carbene‐stabilized diborynes of the form LBBL (L=N‐heterocyclic carbene or cyclic alkyl(amino)carbene) induce rapid, high yielding, intermolecular ortho‐C−H borylation at N‐heterocycles at room temperature. The reaction initially provides the simple hydroarylated diborene, but in some cases proceeds further, providing unusual 1,3,2,5‐diazadiborinine and base‐stabilized alkylidene products.