Decarboxylative borylation

Practical and Modular Construction of C(sp3)-Rich Alkyl Boron Compounds

Alkyl boronic acids and esters play an important role in the synthesis of C(sp³)-rich medicines, agrochemicals, and material chemistry. This work describes a new type of transition-metal-free mediated transformation to enable the construction of C(sp³)-rich and sterically hindered alkyl boron reagents in a practical and modular manner. The broad generality and functional group tolerance of this method is extensively examined through a variety of substrates, including synthesis and late-stage functionalization of scaffolds relevant to medicinal chemistry. The strategic significance of this approach, with alkyl boronic acids as linchpins, is demonstrated through various downstream functionalizations of the alkyl boron compounds. This two-step concurrent cross-coupling approach, resembling formal and flexible alkyl-alkyl couplings, provides a general entry to synthetically challenging high Fsp³-containing drug-like scaffolds.

Decarboxylative Borylation of Stabilized and Activated Carbon Radicals

Redox-active esters (RAEs) as active radical precursors have been extensively studied for C-B bond formations. However, the analogous transformations of stabilized radicals from the corresponding acid precursors remain challenging owing to the strong preference towards single-electron oxidation to the stable carbocations. This work describes a general strategy for rapid access to various aliphatic and aromatic boronic esters by mild photoinduced decarboxylative borylation. Both aryl and alkyl radicals could be generated from the leaving group-assisted N-hydroxybenzimidoyl chloride esters, even α-CF₃ substituted substrates could be activated for further elaboration.

Copper-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Functionalization of Conjugated β,γ-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids

Copper-catalyzed decarboxylative coupling reactions of conjugated β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acids have been achieved for allylic amination, alkylation, sulfonylation, and phosphinoylation. This approach was effective for a broad scope of amino, alkyl, sulfonyl, and phosphinoyl radical precursors as well as various conjugated β,γ-unsaturated carboxylic acids. These reactions also feature high regioselectivity, good functional group tolerance, and simple operation procedure. Mechanistic studies show that the reaction proceeds via copper-catalyzed electrophilic addition onto an olefin followed by decarboxylation, with radical intermediates involved. These insights present a modular and powerful strategy to access versatilely functionalized allyl-containing skeletons from readily available and stable carboxylic acids.

Electrochemical Decarboxylative N-Alkylation of Heterocycles

An operationally simple method to employ nonactivated carboxylic acids as alkylating agents in the N-alkylation of heterocycles is reported through an electrochemically driven anodic decarboxylative process. A wide substrate scope across a range of heterocycles is demonstrated along with a series of applications that significantly reduce the step count required to access such medicinally relevant structures.

Recent Progress in Radical Decarboxylative Functionalizations Enabled by Transition-Metal (Ni, Cu, Fe, Co or Cr) Catalysis

Aliphatic carboxylic acids are abundant in natural and synthetic sources and are widely used as connection points in many chemical transformations. Radical decarboxylative functionalization promoted by transition-metal catalysis has achieved great success, enabling carboxylic acids to be easily transformed into a wide variety of products. Herein, we highlight the recent advances made on transition-metal (Ni, Cu, Fe, Co or Cr) catalyzed C–X (X = C, N, H, O, B, or Si) bond formation as well as syntheses of ketones, amino acids, alcohols, ethers and difluoromethyl derivatives via radical decarboxylation of carboxylic acids or their derivatives, including, among others, redox-active esters (RAEs), anhydrides, and diacyl peroxides.

1 Introduction

2 Ni-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Functionalizations

3 Cu-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Functionalizations

4 Fe-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Functionalizations

5 Co- and Cr-Catalyzed Decarboxylative Functionalizations

6 Conclusions

Diversity-oriented synthesis of peptide-boronic acids by a versatile building-block approach

A new strategy for the synthesis of peptide-boronic acids (PBAs) is presented. 20 Fmoc-protected natural amino acids with orthogonal side-chain protection were straightforwardly converted into their corresponding boron analogues in three simple steps. Subsequent immobilisation on commercially available 1-glycerol polystyrene resin and on-resin transformations yielded a diversity of sequences in high purity. The strategy eliminates various synthetic obstacles such as multi-step routes, low yields, and inseparable impurities. The described method comprises great potential to be implemented in automated combinatorial approaches by markedly facilitating the access to a variety of PBAs. The coupling of amino acids or other building blocks with α-aminoboronates allows the creation of hybrid molecules with significant potential in various scientific disciplines, such as medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and materials science.

Stereochemistry of Transition Metal Complexes Controlled by the Metallo-Anomeric Effect

The use of stereoelectronic interactions to control reactivity and selectivity has a long history in chemistry. The anomeric effect, one of the fundamental concepts in organic chemistry, describes the preferences of a substituent at the anomeric carbon in glycosides to adopt axial configuration when the anomeric group is an electronegative element such as oxygen or a halogen. The origin of the anomeric effect has been the subject of intense debate. Explanations capitalizing on either the delocalization of the endocyclic oxygen lone pair into the antibonding σ*_(C-X) orbital or the minimization of the dipole-dipole interactions are currently the two leading theoretical models. Although the majority of experimental and theoretical studies have focused on the elements from groups 6 and 7, little is known about conformational preferences of tetrahydropyran rings substituted with a transition metal at the anomeric carbon and the role of these interactions in stereoselective synthesis. Here, we report studies on conformational and configurational preferences of organometallic complexes stabilized by vicinal heteroatoms. We provide computational evidence that late transition metals adopt the axial position in heterocycles or synclinal geometry in acyclic systems. Furthermore, the anomeric preferences of late transition metals correlate with the oxidation state of the metal and can be explained by hyperconjugative interactions between endocyclic heteroatom and the σ* acceptor orbitals of the C-M bond. In a broader context, this discovery provides insight into the role of previously unanticipated stereoelectronic effects that can be harnessed in the design of stereoselective reactions, including chemical glycosylation and enantioselective catalysis.

Enantiospecific electrochemical rearrangement for the synthesis of hindered triazolopyridinone derivatives

Triazolopyridinone derivatives are of high value in both medicinal and material chemistry. However, the chiral or hindered triazolopyridinone derivatives remain an underexplored area of chemical space because they are difficult to prepare via conventional methods. Here we report an electrochemical rearrangement for the efficient synthesis of otherwise inaccessible triazolopyridinones with diverse alkyl carboxylic acids as starting materials. This enables the efficient preparation of more than 60 functionalized triazolopyridinones under mild conditions in a sustainable manner. This method is evaluated for the late stage modification of bioactive natural products, amino acids and pharmaceuticals, and it is further applied to the decagram scale preparation of enantiopure triazolopyridinones. The control experiments support a mechanism involving an oxidative cyclization and 1,2-carbon migration. This facile and scalable rearrangement demonstrates the power of electrochemical synthesis to access otherwise-inaccessible triazolopyridinones and may find wide application in organic, material and medicinal chemistry.

Chiral and hindered triazolopyridinone derivatives are an underexplored area of chemical space mainly due to their challenging synthesis via classical methods. Here, the authors report an electrochemical rearrangement for the synthesis of triazolopyridinones using diverse, available alkyl carboxylic acids as starting materials.

The Cyclopropane Ring as a Reporter of Radical Leaving-Group Reactivity for Ni-Catalyzed C(sp3)-O Arylation

The ability to understand and predict reactivity is essential for the development of new reactions. In the context of Ni-catalyzed C(sp³)-O functionalization, we have developed a unique strategy employing activated cyclopropanols to aid the design and optimization of a redox-active leaving group for C(sp³)-O arylation. In this chemistry, the cyclopropane ring acts as a reporter of leaving-group reactivity, since the ring-opened product is obtained under polar (2e) conditions, and the ring-closed product is obtained under radical (1e) conditions. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that the optimal leaving group is redox-active and are consistent with a Ni(I)/Ni(III) catalytic cycle. The optimized reaction conditions are also used to synthesize a number of arylcyclopropanes, which are valuable pharmaceutical motifs.

Methodologies and Strategies for Selective Borylation of C-Het and C-C Bonds

Organoborons have emerged as versatile building blocks in organic synthesis to achieve molecular diversity and as carboxylic acid bioisosteres with broad applicability in drug discovery. Traditionally, these compounds are prepared by the substitution of Grignard/lithium reagents with electrophilic boron species and Brown hydroboration. Recent developments have provided new routes for the efficient preparation of organoborons by applying reactions using chemical feedstocks with leaving groups. As compared to the previous methods that used organic halides (I, Br, and Cl), the direct borylation of less reactive C-Het and C-C bonds has become highly important to get efficiency and functional-group compatibility. This Review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of this topic, including (1) C-F bond borylation, (2) C-O bond borylation, (3) C-S bond borylation, (4) C-N bond borylation, and (5) C-C bond borylation. Considerable attention is given to the strategies and mechanisms involved. We expect that this Review will inspire chemists to discover more efficient transformations to expand this field.

High Reactivity of α-Boryl Radical of Potassium Alkyltrifluoroborate in Atom-Transfer Radical Addition

We found that the α-boryl radical of potassium alkyltrifluoroborate shows higher reactivity compared to the α-boryl radicals of alkylboronic acid pinacol ester and alkyl N-methyl imidodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronate in the halogen atom abstraction step of atom-transfer radical addition (ATRA) between alkyl bromide and vinylborons. In this research, an ATRA of alkyl halides with potassium vinyltrifluoroborate furnished unique alkylborons, which are difficult to synthesize by other methods.

Visible-light-mediated borylation of aryl and alkyl halides with a palladium complex

Palladium catalyzed visible-light-mediated borylation of inactivated aryl and alkyl halides is reported; the method provided high yields and excellent functional group compatibility. Furthermore, arylsilicates were synthesized selectively using dimethylphenylsilyl boronic ester via changing the reaction conditions. Finally, the possible reaction mechanism is determined through fluorescence quenching and turn on/off experiments.

Photochemical [2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Alkenyl Boronic Derivatives: An Entry into 3-Azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane Scaffold

The synthesis of 3-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptyl boropinacolates and trifluoroborates via the [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of the corresponding alkenyl boronic derivatives and maleimides or maleic anhydride is described. Optimization of the reaction conditions (i.e., wavelength, concentration of the reagents, photosensitizer) was carried out, and the scope and limitations of the method were studied. Alkenyl boronic acid pinacolates were found to be more suitable for the [2 + 2] cycloaddition, providing better reaction outcomes compared to the trifluoroborates. The utility of this approach was shown by the preparation of bi- and trifunctional building blocks (21 examples), which could be easily synthesized on up to 60 g scale. These cycloadducts provide a convenient entry into the 3-azabicyclo[3.2.0]heptane scaffold through the C-C coupling or oxidative deborylation reactions.

Synthesis of thioethers, arenes and arylated benzoxazoles by transformation of the C(aryl)-C bond of aryl alcohols

Transformation of aryl alcohols into high-value functionalized aromatic compounds by selective cleavage and functionalization of the C(aryl)–C(OH) bond is of crucial importance, but very challenging by far. Herein, for the first time, we report a novel and versatile strategy for activation and functionalization of C(aryl)–C(OH) bonds by the cooperation of oxygenation and decarboxylative functionalization. A diverse range of aryl alcohol substrates were employed as arylation reagents via the cleavage of C(aryl)–C(OH) bonds and effectively converted into corresponding thioether, arene, and arylated benzoxazole products in excellent yields, in a Cu based catalytic system using O₂ as the oxidant. This study offers a new way for aryl alcohol conversion and potentially offers a new opportunity to produce high-value functionalized aromatics from renewable feedstocks such as lignin which features abundant C(aryl)–C(OH) bonds in its linkages.

Aryl alcohols served as aryl agents by effective activation of C(aryl)–C(OH) bonds, and were transformed into corresponding thioether, arene, and arylated benzoxazole products in excellent yields.

Site-Selective 1,2-Dicarbofunctionalization of Vinyl Boronates through Dual Catalysis

A modular, site-selective 1,2-dicarbofunctionalization of vinyl boronates with organic halides through dual catalysis is described. This reaction proceeds under mild conditions and is characterized by excellent chemo- and regioselectivity. It thus represents a complementary new technique for preparing densely functionalized alkyl boron architectures from simple and accessible precursors.

Continuous Flow-Enabled Synthesis of Bench-Stable Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane Trifluoroborate Salts and Their Utilization in Metallaphotoredox Cross-Couplings

Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane motifs have gained increasing popularity in medicinal chemistry as bioisosteres because of their ability to impact key physicochemical properties. However, reports of direct C(sp²)-C(sp³) cross-coupling of these fragments to afford biaryl isosteres have been scarce. Herein we describe the development of continuous flow-enabled synthesis of bench-stable bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane trifluoroborate salts. Furthermore, we demonstrate the use of metallaphotoredox conditions to enable cross-coupling of these building blocks with complex aryl halide substrates.

Visible Light-Induced Borylation of C-O, C-N, and C-X Bonds

Boronic acids are centrally important functional motifs and synthetic precursors. Visible light-induced borylation may provide access to structurally diverse boronates, but a broadly efficient photocatalytic borylation method that can effect borylation of a wide range of substrates, including strong C-O bonds, remains elusive. Herein, we report a general, metal-free visible light-induced photocatalytic borylation platform that enables borylation of electron-rich derivatives of phenols and anilines, chloroarenes, as well as other haloarenes. The reaction exhibits excellent functional group tolerance, as demonstrated by the borylation of a range of structurally complex substrates. Remarkably, the reaction is catalyzed by phenothiazine, a simple organic photocatalyst with MW < 200 that mediates the previously unachievable visible light-induced single electron reduction of phenol derivatives with reduction potentials as negative as approximately - 3 V versus SCE by a proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism. Mechanistic studies point to the crucial role of the photocatalyst-base interaction.

Zn-mediated decarboxylative carbagermatranation of aliphatic N-hydroxyphthalimide esters: evidence for an alkylzinc intermediate

Alkyl nucleophiles synthesized by decarboxylation of the corresponding N-hydroxyphthalimide esters (NHP esters) would inherit the complex structure of natural carboxylic acids and result in useful cross-coupling fragments. Herein, we report the synthesis of alkyl carbagermatranes via Zn-mediated decarboxylation of NHP esters without Ni catalysis or photocatalysis. Mechanistic studies indicate that an alkyl zinc intermediate was involved; however, the generation of alkyl zinc will be inhibited in the presence of Ni. Hence, this study provides valuable resolution to the perplexing problem about whether organozinc was involved in recently emerging catalytic systems of NHP ester-Zn. Meanwhile, alkyl zinc reagents from NHP esters are compatible with aryl/alkyl bromides and iodides; therefore the scope of carbagermatranation in this work precedes that of in situ-generated organozinc from alkyl halides.

Direct Decarboxylative Functionalization of Carboxylic Acids via O-H Hydrogen Atom Transfer

Decarboxylative functionalization via hydrogen atom transfer offers an attractive alternative to standard redox approaches to this important class of transformations. Herein, we report a direct decarboxylative functionalization of aliphatic carboxylic acids using N-xanthylamides. The unique reactivity of amidyl radicals in hydrogen atom transfer enables decarboxylative xanthylation under redox-neutral conditions. This platform provides expedient access to a range of derivatives through subsequent elaboration of the xanthate group.

Cubane Electrochemistry: Direct Conversion of Cubane Carboxylic Acids to Alkoxy Cubanes Using the Hofer-Moest Reaction under Flow Conditions

The highly strained cubane system is of great interest as a scaffold and rigid linker in both pharmaceutical and materials chemistry. The first electrochemical functionalisation of cubane by oxidative decarboxylative ether formation (Hofer-Moest reaction) was demonstrated. The mild conditions are compatible with the presence of other oxidisable functional groups, and the use of flow electrochemical conditions allows straightforward upscaling.

Decarboxylative Couplings for Late-Stage Peptide Modifications

The application of designer peptides in medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and materials science has generated new interest in synthetic methods for the structural modification of amino acids. Strategies which facilitate the direct diversification of proteinogenic functional groups within unprotected peptide substrates are particularly attractive as they leverage modern solution- and solid-phase protocols-tools which are now both robust and routine-for the synthesis of native peptides. Accordingly, a recent approach to the decarboxylative functionalization of peptidic carboxylic acids, including aspartic/glutamic acid residues and α-carboxylic acids, has proven to be a promising new strategy for peptide modification. This synthetic method merges conventional strategies for the activation of carboxylic acids with transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling chemistry to forge new C-C bonds for the late-stage introduction of valuable synthetic handles. This chapter details a step-by-step protocol for the activation and nickel-catalyzed decarboxylative alkylation of a simple peptide substrate to highlight the broad utility of this strategy for the synthesis of designer peptides.

Metal catalyst-free photo-induced alkyl C–O bond borylation

Tertiary alkyl boronates were prepared via the C–O bond borylation of the corresponding oxalates under catalyst-free/(DMF)₂–B₂cat₂ initiated visible light-induced conditions.

Accessing alkyl boronic esters via visible light-mediated decarboxylative addition reactions of redox-active esters

A visible light-mediated decarboxylative addition reaction for the synthesis of boronic esters based on abundant alkyl carboxylic acid feedstock has been developed.

Late-stage functionalization of peptides via a palladium-catalyzed C(sp3)–H activation strategy

Recent advances in the late-stage modification of peptides via palladium-catalyzed C(sp³)–H functionalization are summarized.

Recent progress in C(aryl)–C(alkyl) bond cleavage of alkylarenes

Cleavage of the C(aryl)–C(alkyl) σ-bond is important both in academy and industry as it holds the potential to provide straightforward access to a variety of targets from readily available chemical feedstocks such like alkylarenes.

Photoinduced Deoxygenative Borylations of Aliphatic Alcohols

A photochemical method for converting aliphatic alcohols into boronic esters is described. Preactivation of the alcohol as a 2-iodophenyl-thionocarbonate enables a novel Barton-McCombie-type radical deoxygenation that proceeds efficiently with visible light irradiation and without the requirement for a photocatalyst, a radical initiator, or tin or silicon hydrides. The resultant alkyl radical is intercepted by bis(catecholato)diboron, furnishing boronic esters from a diverse range of structurally complex alcohols.

Cu-Catalyzed Hydroboration of Benzylidenecyclopropanes: Reaction Optimization, (Hetero)Aryl Scope, and Origins of Pathway Selectivity

The copper-catalyzed hydroboration of benzylidenecyclopropanes, conveniently accessed in one step from readily available benzaldehydes, is reported. Under otherwise identical reaction conditions, two distinct phosphine ligands grant access to different products by either suppressing or promoting cyclopropane opening via β-carbon elimination. Computational studies provide insight into how the rigidity and steric environment of these different bis-phosphine ligands influence the relative activation energies of β-carbon elimination versus protodecupration from the key benzylcopper intermediate. The method tolerates a wide variety of heterocycles prevalent in clinical and pre-clinical drug development, giving access to valuable synthetic intermediates. The versatility of the tertiary cyclopropylboronic ester products is demonstrated through several derivatization reactions.

Cascade CuH-Catalysed Conversion of Alkynes to Enantioenriched 1,1-Disubstituted Products

Enantioenriched α-aminoboronic acids play a unique role in medicinal chemistry and have emerged as privileged pharmacophores in proteasome inhibitors. Additionally, they represent synthetically useful chiral building blocks in organic synthesis. Recently, CuH-catalyzed asymmetric alkene hydrofunctionalization has become a powerful tool to construct stereogenic carbon centers. In contrast, applying CuH cascade catalysis to achieve reductive 1,1-difunctionalization of alkynes remains an important, but largely unaddressed, synthetic challenge. Herein, we report an efficient strategy to synthesize α-aminoboronates via CuH-catalyzed hydroboration/hydroamination cascade of readily available alkynes. Notably, this transformation selectively delivers the desired 1,1-heterodifunctionalized product in favor of alternative homodifunctionalized, 1,2-heterodifunctionalized, or reductively monofunctionalized byproducts, thereby offering rapid access to these privileged scaffolds with high chemo-, regio- and enantioselectivity.