The Development of Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalysed Hydroboration of Olefins

Cobalt-Catalyzed Asymmetric Sequential Hydroboration/Hydrogenation of Internal Alkynes

A highly regio- and enantioselective cobalt-catalyzed hydroboration/hydrogenation of internal alkynes with HBpin and a hydrogen balloon in one pot was developed. A new type of chiral imidazoline iminopyridine (IIP) ligand was introduced for the first time in this novel and efficient strategy. This protocol used relatively simple and available starting materials with good functional group tolerance to construct more valuable chiral secondary organoboronates. The primary mechanistic studies illustrated that the cobalt-catalyzed regioselective hydroboration of alkynes did initially occur followed by HBpin-promoted and cobalt-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of alkenylboronates.

Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroboration of Unactivated 1,1-Disubstituted Alkenes

We report an efficient and highly enantioselective hydroboration of aliphatic 1,1-disubstituted alkenes with pinacolborane using a phosphine-Cu catalyst. The method allows facile preparation of enantiomerically enriched β-chiral alkyl pinacolboronates from a range of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes with high enantioselectivity up to 99% ee. Unprecedented enantiodiscrimination between the geminal alkyl substituents was observed with functional group compatibility in the hydroboration. Furthermore, a catalyst loading as low as 1 mol % furnished the desired product without a decrease in yield or selectivity, demonstrating its efficiency in gram scale synthesis.

Enantioselective Rhodium(III)-Catalyzed Markovnikov Hydroboration of Unactivated Terminal Alkenes

We report the first enantioselective Rh-catalyzed Markovnikov hydroboration of unactivated terminal alkenes. Using a novel sp2-sp3 hybridized diboron reagent and water as a proton source, a broad range of alkenes undergo hydroboration to provide secondary boronic esters with high regio- and enantiocontrol.

Tris(cyclopentadienyl)lanthanide Complexes as Catalysts for Hydroboration Reaction toward Aldehydes and Ketones

It was found that homoleptic cyclopentadienyl lanthanide complexes Cp₃Ln (Ln = Y (1), Yb (2), Sm (3), Nd (4), La (5), Cp = cyclopentadienyl) can be employed as excellent catalysts for the hydroboration of various aldehydes and ketones toward pinacolborane. These robust lanthanide catalysts exhibited high reactivity with low catalyst loadings (0.01-1 mol %) under mild conditions and good functional group tolerability. These complexes also demonstrated uniquely carbonyl-selective hydroboration in the presence of alkenes and alkynes.

Kinetic resolution of racemic 2-substituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines via asymmetric Cu-catalyzed borylation

A highly efficient kinetic resolution of racemic 2-substituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines via asymmetric Cu-catalyzed borylation has been realized for the first time. Under mild conditions, a variety of chiral 3-boryl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines containing two vicinal stereogenic centers as well as the recovered 2-substituted 1,2-dihydroquinolines were afforded after 30 minutes in high yields with up to 99% ee (dr > 99 : 1) and over 98% ee values, respectively, corresponding to kinetic selectivity factors of up to 569. Moreover, this protocol was successfully applied to the asymmetric synthesis of a selective estrogen receptor modulator.

Facile Access to Unprecedented Electron-Precise Monohydrodiboranes(4), cis-1,2-Dihydrodiboranes(4), and a 1,1-Dihydrodiborane(5)

2,3-Bis(dimethylamino)-substituted B₂ N₂ C₂ heterocycles underwent selective dimethylamino/hydride exchange with either one or two equivalents of BH₃ ⋅SMe₂ to give the corresponding cyclic monohydrido- or (cis)1,2-dihydridodiboranes(4), respectively. Upon either heating or irradiation in solution, the latter underwent ring contraction to the corresponding five-membered BN₂ C₂ heterocycles, whereas irradiation of the 1,2-dimethylaminoethene-supported 1,2-dihydridodiborane(4) in the presence of PEt₃ gave an unprecedented unsymmetrical 1,1-dihydrodiborane(5) phosphine adduct.

Versatile Homoallylic Boronates by Chemo-, SN 2'-, Diastereo- and Enantioselective Catalytic Sequence of Cu-H Addition to Vinyl-B(pin)/Allylic Substitution

A highly chemo-, diastereo- and enantioselective catalytic method that efficiently combines a silyl hydride, vinyl-B(pin) (pin=pinacolato) and (E)-1,2-disubstituted allylic phosphates is introduced. Reactions, best promoted by a Cu-based complex with a chiral sulfonate-containing N-heterocyclic carbene, are broadly applicable. Aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkenyl-, alkynyl- and alkyl-substituted allylic phosphates may thus be converted to the corresponding homoallylic boronates and then alcohols (after C-B bond oxidation) in 46-91 % yield and in up to >98 % SN 2':SN 2 ratio, 96:4 diastereomeric ratio and 98:2 enantiomeric ratio. The reasons why an NHC-Cu catalyst is uniquely effective (vs. the corresponding phosphine systems) and the basis for different trends in stereoselectivity are provided with the aid of DFT calculations.

Boraformylation and Silaformylation of Allenes

The boraformylation of allenes with B₂ (pin)₂ and a formate ester as boron and formyl source, respectively, proceeds in the presence of a copper catalyst. The reaction selectively affords the corresponding β-boryl β,γ-unsaturated aldehydes in good to high yields. Furthermore, the silaformylation of allenes was achieved with a formate ester and PhMe₂ Si-B(pin) as the silicon source.

Formal nucleophilic borylation and borylative cyclization of organic halides

Recent advances in borylations of organic halides, including both transition-metal-catalyzed and metal-free methods are summarized. Borylative cyclization is also discussed.

Stereospecific functionalizations and transformations of secondary and tertiary boronic esters

This feature article discusses the range of stereospecific transformations available to enantioenriched boronic esters, and their applications in synthesis.

Nitrile hydroboration reactions catalysed by simple nickel salts, bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(ii) and its derivatives

Simple nickel salts, bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(ii) and its derivatives, catalyzed the hydroboration reactions of aryl and alkyl nitriles with catechol borane.

Adaptable P-X Biaryl Phosphite/Phosphoroamidite-Containing Ligands for Asymmetric Hydrogenation and C-X Bond-Forming Reactions: Ligand Libraries with Exceptionally Wide Substrate Scope

In this personal review, we present our efforts in the design of ligand libraries for the discovery of suitable metal catalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation and C-X bond-forming reactions.

Diverse Asymmetric Hydrofunctionalization of Aliphatic Internal Alkenes through Catalytic Regioselective Hydroboration

We report a two-step strategy for diverse hydrofunctionalizations of aliphatic internal alkenes with high regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. This process comprises a copper-catalyzed asymmetric hydroboration and subsequent stereospecific derivatizations of the secondary boronates. By this strategy, a range of compounds, such as amides, alkyl fluorides and bromides, alcohols, aldehydes, arenes, and heteroarenes, were synthesized from an internal alkene with high regioselectivity and enantioselectivity. Computational studies provide insight into the origins of these selectivities.

Synthesis of Chiral Tertiary Boronic Esters by Oxime-Directed Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroboration

Chiral boronic esters are useful intermediates in asymmetric synthesis. We have previously shown that carbonyl-directed catalytic asymmetric hydroboration (CAHB) is an efficient approach to the synthesis of functionalized primary and secondary chiral boronic esters. We now report that the oxime-directed CAHB of alkyl-substituted methylidene and trisubstituted alkene substrates by pinacolborane (pinBH) affords oxime-containing chiral tertiary boronic esters with yields up to 87% and enantiomeric ratios up to 96:4 e.r. The utility of the method is demonstrated by the formation of chiral diols and O-substituted hydroxylamines, the generation of quaternary carbon stereocenters through carbon-carbon coupling reactions, and the preparation of chiral 3,4,4-trisubstituted isoxazolines.

One-carbon homologation of arylboronic acids: a convenient approach to the synthesis of pinacol benzylboronates

A transition-metal-free method for the synthesis of benzylic boronate esters with arylboronic acids and trimethylsilyldiazomethane (TMSCHN₂) has been developed.

Highly selective Markovnikov hydroboration of alkyl-substituted terminal alkenes with a phosphine–copper(i) catalyst

A new method has been developed for the Markovnikov hydroboration of alkyl-substituted terminal alkenes. The use of bulky bisphosphine–copper(i) catalyst system resulted in high regioselectivity to afford the corresponding secondary alkylboronates (branch/linear = 92 : 8–97 : 3).

Mechanism of NHC-Catalyzed Conjugate Additions of Diboron and Borosilane Reagents to α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Broadly applicable enantioselective C-B and C-Si bond-forming processes catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) were recently introduced; these boryl and silyl conjugate addition reactions (BCA and SCA, respectively), which proceed without the need for a transition-metal complex, represent reaction pathways that are distinct from those facilitated by transition-metal-containing species (e.g., Cu, Ni, Pt, Pd, or Rh based). The Lewis-base-catalyzed (NHC) transformations are valuable to chemical synthesis, as they can generate high enantioselectivities and possess unique chemoselectivity profiles. Here, the results of investigations that elucidate the principal features of the NHC-catalyzed BCA and SCA processes are detailed. Spectroscopic evidence is provided illustrating why the presence of excess base and MeOH or H2O is required for efficient and enantioselective boryl and silyl addition reactions. It is demonstrated that the proton sources influence the efficiency and/or enantioselectivity of NHC-catalyzed enantioselective transformations in several ways. The positive, and at times adverse, impact of water (biphasic conditions) on catalytic enantioselective silyl addition reactions is analyzed. It is shown that a proton source can facilitate nonenantioselective background reactions and NHC decomposition, requiring the catalyst to surpass such complications. Stereochemical models are presented that account for the identity of the observed major enantiomers, providing a rationale for the differences in selectivity profiles of BCA and SCA processes.

Aminoboration: Addition of B-N σ Bonds across C-C π Bonds

This communication demonstrates the first catalytic aminoboration of C-C π bonds by B-N σ bonds and its application to the synthesis of 3-borylated indoles. The regiochemistry and broad functional group compatibility of this addition reaction enable substitution patterns that are incompatible with major competing technologies. This aminoboration reaction effects the formation of C-B and C-N bonds in a single step from aminoboronic esters, which are simple starting materials available on the gram scale. This reaction generates synthetically valuable N-heterocyclic organoboron compounds as potential building blocks for drug discovery. The working mechanistic hypothesis involves a bifunctional Lewis acid/base catalysis strategy involving the combination of a carbophilic gold cation and a trifluoroacetate anion that activate the C-C π bond and the B-N σ bond simultaneously.

NMR spectroscopy studies of electronic effects and equilibrium in the organogold-to-boron transmetalation reaction and studies towards its application to the alkoxyboration addition of boron-oxygen σ bonds to alkynes

Electronic effects in the transmetalation of an aryl group from gold to boron were investigated by NMR spectroscopy. The transmetalation reaction is more facile for increasingly electrophilic boron reagents and is in equilibrium under certain conditions. Observed tetracoordinate boronate compounds suggest a two-step, associative transmetalation reaction mechanism in which the organogold complex first delivers a nucleophilic phenyl group to the empty p orbital of boron. For certain substrates, this tetracoordinate intermediate decomposes to the tricordinate, final transmetallation product, and in others this tricordinate species remains in equilibrium with a tetracoordinate anionic boron compound. Experimental and theoretical investigations into the extension of this transmetalation reaction from a mechanistic step in our previously reported intramolecular gold-catalyzed addition of boron-oxygen σ bonds across alkynes to an intermolecular variant are discussed.2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Surprisingly Facile C-H Activation in the Course of Oxime-Directed Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroboration

Deuterium-labeling studies carried out in conjunction with investigations into the directed catalytic asymmetric hydroboration of unsaturated oxime ethers reveal a surprisingly facile ortho-metallation or σ-bond metathesis pathway that that diverts the expected course of CAHB to a tandem C-H activation/hydroboration reaction pathway.

Diastereoselective Ni-catalyzed 1,4-hydroboration of chiral dienols

The Ni-catalyzed hydroboration of dienols occurs in a 1,4 fashion and delivers a syn-propionate motif in high diastereoselectivity and with a stereodefined trisubstituted crotylboronic ester. The boronic ester can be further manipulated to provide carbon-carbon or carbon-oxygen bonds.