1,2-BN Cyclohexane: Synthesis, Structure, Dynamics, and Reactivity

BN/CC isosterism has emerged as a viable strategy to increase the structural diversity of carbon-based compounds. We present the first synthesis and characterization of the parent 1,2-BN cyclohexane, the BN-isostere of cyclohexane. 1,2-BN cyclohexane is an air- and water-stable compound that cleanly forms a trimer with release of dihydrogen when thermally activated. We also demonstrate that 1,2-BN cyclohexane has a lower activation barrier for ring inversion than cyclohexane due to BN/CC isosterism.