B(C6F5)3-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of imines and related heteroarenes using cyclohexa-1,4-dienes as a dihydrogen source.

The strong boron Lewis acid tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane, B(C6F5)3, is shown to abstract a hydride from suitably donor-substituted cyclohexa-1,4-dienes, eventually releasing dihydrogen. This process is coupled with the FLP-type (FLP = frustrated Lewis pair) hydrogenation of imines and nitrogen-containing heteroarenes that are catalyzed by the same Lewis acid. The net reaction is a B(C6F5)3-catalyzed, i.e., transition-metal-free, transfer hydrogenation using easy-to-access cyclohexa-1,4-dienes as reducing agents. Competing reaction pathways with or without the involvement of free dihydrogen are discussed.