Synthesis of tetraorganylborate salts: Photogeneration of tertiary amines

We report the synthesis of a series of new ammonium tetraorganylborates str ategically designed to, upon photolysis, generate tertiary amines. Experime nts in acetonitrile show amine formation in reasonably high quantum yield t hat depends on the photoreactive acceptor, the borate, and the substituents . on the nitrogen atom. The reactive triplet state is reduced by the borate , and this is followed by rapid homolysis of the carbon-nitrogen bond.