Enthalpies of formation of primary, secondary, and tertiary amineborane adducts in tetrahydrofuran solution

Abstract

The enthalpies of solution of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines in THF were determined from calorimetric experiments for five primary, five secondary, and three tertiary amines. The enthalpies of formation of amineborane adducts from borane and the corresponding amines in THF solution were also determined. The differences in adduct formation enthalpies from borane and the corresponding amines can be explained by taking into account steric effects and the chain length of the substituents on the amine. In general, as the alkyl chain length, branching, or the number of chains increases, the formation enthalpy of amineborane adducts is less exothermic. That is to say, the steric effect is more important in tertiary and secondary amines than in primary ones. The enthalpy of solution of linear primary amines in THF was more endothermic as the alkyl chain increased and a similar behavior was observed with linear secondary and tertiary ones. An analysis is made of the amine structural factors which affect the amineborane adduct formation.