Synthesis and characterization of (N→B) phenyl[N-alkyl-N-(2-alkyl)aminodiacetate-O,O′,N]boranes and phenyl[N-alkyl-N-(2-alkyl) aminodiacetate-O,O′,N]boranes

MIDA- and TIDA-Boronates Stabilize α-Radicals Through B-N Hyperconjugation

Multifunctional organoboron compounds increasingly enable the simple generation of complex, Csp3 -rich small molecules. The ability of boron-containing functional groups to modify the reactivity of α-radicals has also enabled a myriad of chemical reactions. Boronic esters with vacant p-orbitals have a significant stabilizing effect on α-radicals due to delocalization of spin density into the empty orbital. The effect of coordinatively saturated derivatives, such as N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates and counterparts, remains less clear. Herein, we demonstrate that coordinatively saturated MIDA and TIDA boronates stabilize secondary alkyl α-radicals via σB-N hyperconjugation in a manner that allows site-selective C-H bromination. DFT calculated radical stabilization energies and spin density maps as well as LED NMR kinetic analysis of photochemical bromination rates of different boronic esters further these findings. This work clarifies that the α-radical stabilizing effect of boronic esters does not only proceed via delocalization of radical character into vacant boron p-orbitals, but that hyperconjugation of tetrahedral boron-containing functional groups and their ligand electron delocalizing ability also play a critical role. These findings establish boron ligands as a useful dial for tuning reactivity at the α-carbon.

Automated iterative Csp3-C bond formation

Fully automated synthetic chemistry would substantially change the field by providing broad on-demand access to small molecules. However, the reactions that can be run autonomously are still limited. Automating the stereospecific assembly of Csp3-C bonds would expand access to many important types of functional organic molecules1. Previously, methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates were used to orchestrate the formation of Csp2-Csp2 bonds and were effective building blocks for automating the synthesis of many small molecules2, but they are incompatible with stereospecific Csp3-Csp2 and Csp3-Csp3 bond-forming reactions3-10. Here we report that hyperconjugative and steric tuning provide a new class of tetramethyl N-methyliminodiacetic acid (TIDA) boronates that are stable to these conditions. Charge density analysis11-13 revealed that redistribution of electron density increases covalency of the N-B bond and thereby attenuates its hydrolysis. Complementary steric shielding of carbonyl π-faces decreases reactivity towards nucleophilic reagents. The unique features of the iminodiacetic acid cage2, which are essential for generalized automated synthesis, are retained by TIDA boronates. This enabled Csp3 boronate building blocks to be assembled using automated synthesis, including the preparation of natural products through automated stereospecific Csp3-Csp2 and Csp3-Csp3 bond formation. These findings will enable increasingly complex Csp3-rich small molecules to be accessed via automated assembly.

Palladacycle-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of aryl/heteroaryl halides with MIDA boronates in EtOH/H2O or H2O

With good to excellent yields, a series of mono- or diheteroaryl compounds were synthesized via the palladacycle-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura reaction of various N-methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates with aryl/heteroaryl halides in EtOH/H₂O or H₂O.

Multistep synthesis of complex boronic acids from simple MIDA boronates

Due to its sensitivity to most synthetic reagents, it is typically necessary to introduce the boronic acid functional group just prior to its utilization. Overcoming this important limitation, we herein report that air- and chromatographically stable MIDA boronates are compatible with a wide range of common reagents which enables the multistep synthesis of complex boronic acid building blocks from simple B-containing starting materials. X-ray and variable temperature NMR studies link the unique stability of MIDA boronates to a kinetic inaccessibility of the potentially reactive boron p-orbital and/or nitrogen lone pair. These findings were collectively harnessed to achieve a short and modular total synthesis of (+)-crocacin C via the iterative cross-coupling of a structurally complex, MIDA-protected haloboronic acid building block.

Diastereoselective Synthesis of β-Hydroxyketones

The diastereoselective synthesis of 2,4-dibromo-3-hydroxy-1,3-diphenylbutan-1-one [4(a-a’)]; 2,4-dibromo-3-hydroxy-1,3-di [( p-chloro)phenyl]butan-1-one [5(a-a’)] and 2,4-dibromo-3-hydroxy-1,3-di[( p-phenyl)phenyl]butan-1-one [6(a-a’)] using (N→B) phenyl( N-methyliminodiacetate- O,O',N)borane and n-BuLi is reported. The mixture of these compounds was characterized by1H,13C NMR, HETCOR, COSY and infrared spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.