REACTIONS OF LASER-ABLATED BORON ATOMS WITH METHANOL - INFRARED-SPECTRA AND AB-INITIO CALCULATIONS OF CH3BO, CH2BOH, AND CH2BO IN SOLID ARGON

Laser-ablated boron atoms react with methanol to give primarily CH3BO, which is isolated in an argon matric. FTIR spectra of various isotopi c combinations and MP2 calculated isotopic frequencies help identify t his product and the minor products, CH2BOH and CH2BO. All new products form via boron insertion into the C-O bond, while HBO and DBO form vi a boron insertion into the O-H bond; no C-H insertion products can be observed. All of these products contain partial dative B-O bonds in wh ich an oxygen lone pair bonds with the empty boron p-orbital.