Interaction of sulfinimines with boron Lewis acids

The interaction of sulfinimines with boron trifluoride etherate and boron t richloride has been investigated using H-1, C-13 and N-15 NMR. The formatio n of 1:1 adducts was observed in CDCl3 at -40 degreesC. The primary complex ation of boron trihalides with sulfinimines occurred at the nitrogen atom. Shielding effects observed in N-15 NMR spectra suggest a medium strength in teraction of the boron trihalides with the nitrogen atom. The complexation to the nitrogen atom was also manifested in chemical shifts and splittings of imino group resonances in H-1 and C-13 NMR.