A Coppoborylene Stabilized by Multicenter Covalent Bonding and Its Amphoteric Reactivity to CO

A cationic copper-stabilized coppoborylene was prepared and structurally characterized via infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. This structure exemplifies a new class of borylenes stabilized by three-center-two-electron metal-boron-metal covalent bonding interaction, displaying exceptional σ-acidity and unparalleled π-donor capability for CO activation that outperforms all of the known transition metal cations and is comparable or even superior to the documented base-trapped borylenes. Its neutral form represents a monovalent boron compound with a strongly reactive amphoteric boron center built on transition-metal-boron bonds, which inspires the design and synthesis of new members of the borylene family.