hydrostibinations

Hydrostibinations are chemical reactions involving the addition of a hydride (H−) and a boron-containing group to a substrate, resulting in the formation of antimony-boron compounds. These reactions typically involve the activation of antimony-hydrogen bonds and are studied for their potential applications in synthesis and catalysis.

The term "hydrostibination" derives from "hydro-" indicating hydrogen involvement and "-stibination," referencing antimony (stibium). These processes can be viewed as the boron analogs of hydrofunctionalization reactions, where hydrides are added across multiple bonds in organic substrates. In hydrostibinations, the addition often targets unsaturated bonds, such as alkenes or alkynes, facilitated by stibine derivatives (compounds containing antimony-hydrogen bonds).

Research into hydrostibination reactions aims to understand their mechanisms, scope, and selectivity, with recent studies exploring the use of stibine compounds as reagents for selective bond formation. These reactions are significant because they expand the toolbox for antimony chemistry, enabling the development of new synthetic pathways with potential applications in pharmaceuticals, materials science, and catalysis.

While hydrostibinations are comparatively less common than analogous processes involving other group 15 elements, such as phosphines or arsines, progress in this area could lead to novel methods for manipulating molecules via antimony-centered reagents. Ongoing research continues to investigate optimal conditions, catalyst involvement, and the stereochemical outcomes associated with hydrostibination reactions.