Soft Scorpionate Ligands Based on Imidazole‐2‐thione Donors

Abstract

Abstract This review describes the development of the anionic soft scorpionate ligand hydrotris(methimazolyl)borate (Tm Me ), its N ‐alkyl and N ‐aryl congeners and draws comparisons where appropriate with its close relatives, the dihydrobis(methimazolyl)borates (Bm R ). Key features of the interaction of these species with metal centres, including bonding modes, electron‐donor properties, M ··· H–B interactions, ligand degradation and metallaboratrane formation are addressed and a summary of the coordination chemistry of these species with both main group and transition metals is given. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)