Boronic ester functionalised 1,8-diboryl-naphthalene scaffolds: fluoride versus oxide chelation

1,8-C 10 H 6 (BCat)(BMes 2 ) takes up F − to give a kinetic product featuring a bridging B–F–B unit. An alternative structural motif featuring a terminal B–F bond and a B–O–B bridge using one of the catechol oxygens is shown to be more favourable thermodynamically.