The continued and evolving significance of boron chemistry to the wider chemical community is demonstrated by the international and interdisciplinary nature of the research reported in this book. Contemporary Boron Chemistry encompasses inorganic and organic compounds as well as polymers, solid-state materials, medicinal aspects and theoretical studies. Covering many areas of chemistry with boron at its centre, topics include applications to polyolefin catalysis, medicine, materials and polymers; boron cluster chemistry, including carboranes and metal-containing clusters; organic and inorganic chemistry of species containing only 1 or 2 boron atoms; and theoretical studies of boron-containing compounds. New materials with novel optical and electronic properties are also discussed. Comprehensive and up to date, graduates and researchers in a wide range of fields, particularly those in organometallic and organic chemistry and materials science, will welcome this book.

V. I. MATKOVICH During the meeting of the International Symposium on Boron held in October, 1972 in Tbilisi, U.S.S.R., the idea was proposed to assemble a review of boron and refractory borides by the specialists present. The advantages of such a work were immediately apparent. Such diverse applications of borides as in protective armor, nuclear reactors, coat ings, reinforcement, etc. can hardly all be presented in sufficient detail by a single author. On the other hand it was also recognized that with so much specialization, some areas of interest may not be covered. Within the last decade or two a number of areas have been developed in which the use of refractory borides is growing and improvements are being actively explored. Thus, a number of borides have considerable potential as reinforcing material for plastics or light metals, though only boron fibers have been firmly established up to the present. Ap plication of flakes and films for two-dimensional reinforcement appears attractive, although the high cost of materials and development repre sents a considerable barrier. A number of borides have been used to manufacture lightweight protec tive armor. In this area relatively fast changes seem to be taking place as improvements in performance and weight are made. Boron carbide has found considerable use in this application and new developments exploit the light weight of beryllium borides.

A hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS) is an atomic-thick 2D material that exhibits many interesting properties such as high chemical stability and excellent mechanical and thermal properties. In Chapter One, the authors introduce two methods for the exfoliation of BNNS from hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). Then, methodologies for the surface functionalisation and nanocomposite construction are demonstrated by two BNNS based nanocomposites. The catalytic performance of the BNNS based nanocomposites is also evaluated and discussed in detail. Chapter two evaluates the formation of rolled hexagonal boron nitride nano-sheets (h-BN nanoscrolls) on their unique morphology, magnetic properties and applications. Due to the high chemical and thermal stabilities, as well as atomically smooth surfaces with free of dangling bonds, hBN has been used as barriers, passivation and support layers in 2D electronic devices, to maximise the electrical and optical characterisation of 2D materials. However, there still remains a challenge in obtaining large-area and high-quality hBN film for real 2D electronic devices. Chapter Three focuses on chemical vapor deposition (CVD), a promising method to overcome these limitations. Chapter Four discusses how a boron doped armchair graphene ribbon has been shown by cyclic voltammetry to be a potential catalyst to replace platinum, however the reaction catalysed was not identified. The authors use density functional calculations to show the reaction catalysed is likely dissociation of HO2. Chapter Five reveals a novel and industrially feasible route to incorporate boron nitride nanoparticles (BNNPs) in radiation-shielding aerospace structural materials. Chapter Six deals with the preparation and characterisation of boron nitride nanotube (BNNT)-reinforced biopolyester matrices. The morphology, hydrophilicity, biodegradability, cytotoxicity, thermal, mechanical, tribological and antibacterial properties of the resulting nanocomposites are discussed in detail. Chapter Seven presents theoretical estimations regarding the compressive buckling response of single walled boron nitride nanotubes (SWBNNTs), which have a similar crystal structure as single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Moreover, SWBNNTs have excellent mechanical, insulating and dielectric properties. Finally, Chapter Eight shows how the different exchange mechanisms can be distinguished and measured by studying solid films where part of the 3He is replaced by immobile Ne atoms. The authors also show how the formation energy of vacancies and vacancy tunneling frequency can be obtained from NMR studies at high temperature.

For the first time, the whole field of organoboronic acids is presented in one comprehensive handbook. Professor Dennis Hall, a rising star within the community, covers all aspects of this important substance class, including applications in chemistry, biology and medicine. Starting with an introduction to the structure, properties, and preparation of boronic acid derivatives, together with an overview of their reactions and applications, the book goes on to look at metal-catalyzed borylation of alkanes and arenas, coupling reactions and rhodium-catalyzed additions of boronic acids to alkenes and carbonyl compounds. There follows chapters on copper-promoted C-O and C-N cross-coupling of boronic acids, recent applications in organic synthesis, as well as alpha-haloalkylboronic esters in asymmetric synthesis. Later sections deal with cycloadditions, organoboronic acids, oxazaborolidines as asymmetric inducers, and boronic acid based receptors and sensors. The whole is rounded off with experimental procedures, making this invaluable reading for organic, catalytic and medicinal chemists, as well as those working in organometallics.

This book addresses the development, properties, and applications of atomic-layered boron, or, borophene. The authors explain how borophene was predicted and created before investigating the properties that make it a desirable and useful material. The material is extremely thin and possesses exotic quantum states of new Dirac physics. Applications in superconductivity, plasmonics, and industrial chemical catalysis are examined, along with an examination of the material’s unique hydrogen boride and boron nitride forms. Given the varied potential uses for the new-developed borophene, this timely book will be useful to researchers in academia and industry.