Tomohiro AGOU

Organoaluminum compounds have been widely utilized in synthetic organic chemistry as nucleophiles, reducing reagents, and Lewis acids. Most of the organoaluminum compounds contain trivalent aluminum atoms with the formula of AIR(3). In contrast, the properties of low-oxidation state aluminum species, Al (II) and Al (I), have not been investigated thoroughly to date. The low-oxidation state aluminum species are generally highly reactive and thus have been proposed only as short-lived, elusive intermediates in several organic reactions. Recent development in main group element chemistry, however, have made its possible to isolate highly reactive low-valent organoaluminum species as bottlable compounds and investigate their reactivity in detail. We report here the reactivity of organoaluminum species bearing Al-Al bonding towards various unsaturated compounds and dihydrogen. Structure and reactivity of formally anti-aromatic aluminacyclopentadienes (alumoles) are also described.

From the viewpoint of the improvement of organic optoelectronic devices, including organic electroluminescence devices, organic solar cells, and organic field effect transistors, development of novel π-conjugated molecules with unique structures and properties should be of great importance. In the course of our study on functional π-systems by taking advantage of characteristics of main group elements, we have synthesized dibenzoheteraborin-based hetero-n-conjugated molecules. Rigid and planar π-backbones of the dibenzoheteraborin derivatives have been shown to enhance synergetic interactions between the main group elements. In this paper, syntheses and properties of the dibenzoheteraborin derivatives involving various main group elements, such as nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and selenium, are described.

From the viewpoint of the improvement of organic optoelectronic devices, including organic electroluminescence devices, organic solar cells, and organic field effect transistors, development of novel pi-conjugated molecules with unique structures and properties should be of great importance. In the course of our study on functional pi-systems by taking advantage of characteristics of main group elements, we have synthesized dibenzoheteraborin-based hetero-pi-conjugated molecules. Rigid and planar pi-backbones of the dibenzoheteraborin derivatives have been shown to enhance synergetic interactions between the main group elements. In this paper, syntheses and properties of the dibenzoheteraborin derivatives involving various main group elements, such as nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur, and selenium, are described.

This short review describes syntheses and properties of several pi-conjugated polymers bearing boron atoms in the main chains. These polymers exhibit interesting optical and electronic properties including strong luminescence because of conjugation between pi* orbitals of the unsaturated hydrocarbon units and vacant 2p orbitals of the boron atoms. Boron-containing pi-conjugate polymers are potentially applicable for novel organic functional materials.

This short review describes syntheses and properties of several π-conjugated polymers bearing boron atoms in the main chains. These polymers exhibit interesting optical and electronic properties including strong luminescence because of conjugation between π^* orbitals of the unsaturated hydrocarbon units and vacant 2p orbitals of the boron atoms. Boron-containing π-conjugate polymers are potentially applicable for novel organic functional materials.