[4][5][6] Bonding in iminoboranes can be described by two resonance structures:[7] The stability is dramatically affected by bulky substituents.
Five types of oligomerization product are produced: cyclodimers (1,3-diaza-2,4-diboretidines,[1] Di[13]), cyclotrimers (borazines, Tr), bicyclotrimers (Dewar borazines, Tr′[14]), cyclotetramers (octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetraza-2,4,6,8-tetraborocines, Te[15]), and polymers (polyiminoboranes, Po); which are shown below.
[16] Which product is dominant depends on the structures of reactants and the reaction conditions.
[18] Boration reaction of iminoboranes is the addition of B-X single bond to B≡N, where -X can be -Cl (chloro-boration), -N3 (azido-boration), -SR (thio-boration), -NR2 (amino-boration) and R (alkyl-boration).
Some electron-rich iminoboranes form adducts with Lewis acids.