Revisiting Polyfluoroarenes as Radical Acceptors: Radical C–F Bond Borylation of Polyfluoroarenes with N-Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes and Synthesis of Borane-Containing Liquid Crystals

Radical reactions enabled by polyfluoroaryl fragments: photocatalysis and beyond

Polyfluoroarenes have been known for a long time, but they are most often used as fluorinated building blocks for the synthesis of aromatic compounds. At the same time, due to peculiar fluorine effect, they have unique properties that provide applications in various fields ranging from synthesis to materials science. This review summarizes advances in the radical chemistry of polyfluoroarenes, which have become possible mainly with the advent of photocatalysis. Transformations of the fluorinated ring via the C-F bond activation, as well as use of fluoroaryl fragments as activating groups and hydrogen atom transfer agents are discussed. The ability of fluoroarenes to serve as catalysts is also considred.

Visible Light-Induced 1,2-Diphenyldisulfane-Mediated Defluoroborylation of Polyfluoroarenes

A green and practical protocol of defluoroborylation of polyfluoroarenes with stable and readily accessible NHC-borane was developed, using 1,2-diphenyldisulfane as a hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and single electron transfer (SET) reagent precursor under visible-light irradiation, leading to the concise formation of value-added fluorinated organoboron scaffolds. Mechanism studies revealed the method underwent a boryl radical addition reaction with polyfluoroarene, followed by successive single electron transfer pathways and defluorination of the C-F bond to offer the targeted product. This unprecedented platform relies on 1,2-diphenyldisulfane and base without using expensive photocatalysts, highlighting the methodology has promising application value to prepare borylated polyfluoroarene compounds.

Visible-Light-Promoted Regioselective Hydroborylation of Ketene Dithioacetals with NHC-Boranes

NHC-boranes have been treated as a reliable source of boryl radicals. In this study, regioselective hydroborylation of ketene dithioacetals with NHC-borane was achieved under mild conditions via a visible-light-promoted radical chain process using thiophenol as a proton donor and hydrogen atom transfer. This protocol features a low-cost catalyst, good functional group tolerance, a relatively broad range of substrate scope, and good to excellent yields. Moreover, mechanism of this hydroborylation reaction was preliminarily studied.

Facile Borylation of Alkenes, Alkynes, Imines, Arenes and Heteroarenes with N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Boranes and a Heterogeneous Semiconductor Photocatalyst

Although the development of radical chain and photocatalytic borylation reactions using N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-borane as boron source is remarkable, the persistent problems, including the use of hazardous and high-energy radical initiators or the recyclability and photostability issues of soluble homogeneous photocatalysts, still leave great room for further development in a sustainable manner. Herein, we report a conceptually different approach toward highly functionalized organoborane synthesis by using recoverable ultrathin cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanosheets as a heterogeneous photocatalyst, and a general and mild borylation platform that enables regioselective borylation of a wide variety of alkenes (arylethenes, trifluoromethylalkenes, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and nitriles), alkynes, imines and electron-poor aromatic rings with NHC-borane as boryl radical precursor. Mechanistic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that both photogenerated electrons and holes on the CdS fully perform their own roles, thereby resulting in enhancement of photocatalytic activity and stability of CdS.

Recent Advances in the Construction of Fluorinated Organoboron Compounds

Fluorinated organoboron compounds are important synthetic building blocks that combine the unique characteristics of a fluorinated motif with the versatile synthetic applications of organoboron moiety. This review article guides the research on fluorinated organoboron compounds mainly from four aspects in recent years: selective monodefluoroborylation of polyfluoroarenes and polyfluoroalkenes, selective borylation of fluorinated substrates, selective fluorination of organoboron compounds, and borofluorination of alkynes/olefins. In addition, this review will provide a necessary guidance and inspiration for the research on the valuable synthetic building block fluorinated organoboron compounds.

NHC induced radical formation via homolytic cleavage of B–B bonds and its role in organic reactions

New borylation methodologies have been reported recently, wherein diboron(4) compounds apparently participate in free radical couplings via the homolytic cleavage of the B–B bond. We report herein that bis-NHC adducts of the type (NHC)₂·B₂(OR)₄, which are thermally unstable and undergo intramolecular ring expansion reactions (RER), are sources of boryl radicals of the type NHC–BR₂˙, exemplified by Me₂Im^Me·Bneop˙ 1a (Me₂Im^Me = 1,3,4,5-tetramethyl-imidazolin-2-ylidene, neop = neopentylglycolato), which are formed by homolytic B–B bond cleavage. Attempts to apply the boryl moiety 1a in a metal-free borylation reaction by suppressing the RER failed. However, based on these findings, a protocol was developed using Me₂Im^Me·B₂pin₂3 for the transition metal- and additive-free boryl transfer to substituted aryl iodides and bromides giving aryl boronate esters in good yields. Analysis of the side products and further studies concerning the reaction mechanism revealed that radicals are likely involved. An aryl radical was trapped by TEMPO, an EPR resonance, which was suggestive of a boron-based radical, was detected in situ, and running the reaction in styrene led to the formation of polystyrene. The isolation of a boronium cation side product, [(Me₂Im^Me)₂·Bpin]⁺I⁻7, demonstrated the fate of the second boryl moiety of B₂pin₂. Interestingly, Me₂Im^Me NHC reacts with aryl iodides and bromides generating radicals. A mechanism for the boryl radical transfer from Me₂Im^Me·B₂pin₂3 to aryl iodides and bromides is proposed based on these experimental observations.

Bis-NHC adducts of the type (NHC)₂·B₂(OR)₄ are sources of boryl radicals of the type NHC–BR₂˙, which are formed by homolytic B–B bond cleavage.

C-F bond activation under transition-metal-free conditions

The unique properties of fluorine-containing organic compounds make fluorine substitution attractive for the development of pharmaceuticals and various specialty materials, which have inspired the evolution of diverse C-F bond activation techniques. Although many advances have been made in functionalizations of activated C-F bonds utilizing transition metal complexes, there are fewer approaches available for nonactivated C-F bonds due to the difficulty in oxidative addition of transition metals to the inert C-F bonds. In this regard, using Lewis acid to abstract the fluoride and light/radical initiator to generate the radical intermediate have emerged as powerful tools for activating those inert C-F bonds. Meanwhile, these transition-metal-free processes are greener, economical, and for the pharmaceutical industry, without heavy metal residues. This review provides an overview of recent C-F bond activations and functionalizations under transition-metal-free conditions. The key mechanisms involved are demonstrated and discussed in detail. Finally, a brief discussion on the existing limitations of this field and our perspective are presented.

Advances in chemistry of N-heterocyclic carbene boryl radicals

Boron-centred radicals (boryl radicals) are potential and attractive species in main group chemistry and synthetic chemistry. Recently, the development of boron compounds ligated by N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has sparked off advavnces in boryl radical chemistry because NHCs can highly stabilise boryl radicals by electronic and steric factors. This review highlights recent synthesis and reactions of such NHC-boryl radicals. From the standpoint of main group chemistry, examples of isolation or detection of unique NHC-boryl radicals are presented. From the standpoint of synthetic chemistry, on the other hand, the development of reactions of user-friendly NHC-boryl radicals, which has contributed to radical chemistry, organoboron chemistry and polymer science, is comprehensively described.

Synthesis and docking calculations of tetrafluoronaphthalene derivatives and their inhibition profiles against some metabolic enzymes

Syntheses of tetrahydroepoxy, O-allylic, O-prenylic, and O-propargylic tetrafluoronaphthalene derivatives, starting from 1-bromo-2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorobenzene, are reported here for the first time. The O-substituted tetrafluoronaphthalene derivatives were designed and also synthesized via a one-pot nucleophilic substitution reaction in excellent yields, whereas the tetrafluorotetrahydroepoxynaphthalene derivate was synthesized via a reduction reaction in excellent yield. The chemical structures of all the synthesized molecules were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry techniques. In this study, a series of novel tetrafluoronaphthalene derivatives (2, 2a, 4-6) was tested toward several enzymes including α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and human carbonic anhydrase I and II (hCA I/II). The tetrafluoronaphthalene derivatives 2, 2a, and 4-6 showed IC₅₀ and K_i values in the range of 0.83-1.27 and 0.71-1.09 nM against hCA I, 1.26-1.85 and 1.45-5.31 nM against hCA II, 39.02-56.01 and 20.53-56.76 nM against AChE, and 15.27-34.12 and 22.58-30.45 nM against α-glucosidase, respectively. Molecular docking calculations were made to determine the biological activity values of the tetrafluoronaphthalene derivatives against the enzymes. After the calculations, ADME/T analysis was performed to examine the effects on human metabolism. Finally, these compounds had antidiabetic and anticholinesterase potentials.

Inverse Hydroboration of Imines with NHC-Boranes Is Promoted by Diphenyl Disulfide and Visible Light

We describe a simple and efficient procedure for nucleophilic borylation of imines in the absence of a photoredox catalyst. Visible light irradiation of an acetonitrile solution of an imine, an NHC-borane, and diphenyl disulfide (10 mol %) provides various stable α-amino NHC-boranes in good yields. The reaction proceeds via addition of a nucleophilic boryl radical to an imine, followed by hydrogen abstraction from thiophenol, which is generated from NHC-borane and diphenyl disulfide.

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.