Stereoselective Unsymmetrical 1,1-Diborylation of Alkynes with a Neutral sp2 -sp3 Diboron Reagent

The incorporation of two distinct boryl groups at the same carbon center in organic molecules has attracted growing research interest due to its potential for facilitating controlled, precise synthesis through stepwise dual carbon-boron bond transformations. Here we report a method to access unsymmetrical 1,1-diborylalkene (UDBA) stereoselectively via the reaction of readily available alkynes with a neutral sp2 -sp3 diboron reagent (NHC)BH2 -Bpin (NHC=N-heterocyclic carbene). Attributing to the chemically easily distinguishable nature of the sp2 and sp3 boryl moieties, controllable stepwise derivatization of the resultant UDBAs is realized. This process leads to various multifunctionalized olefins and organoborons, such as acylboranes, which are difficult to prepare by other methods.

A Versatile Route to Acyl (MIDA)Boronates

A modular approach to highly functional acyl (MIDA)boronates is described. It involves the generation of the hitherto unknown radical derived from acetyl (MIDA)boronate and its capture by various alkenes, including electronically unbiased, unactivated alkenes. In contrast to the anion of acetyl (MIDA)boronate, which has not so far been employed in synthesis, the corresponding radical is well behaved and readily produced from the novel α-xanthyl acetyl (MIDA)boronate. This shelf-stable, easily prepared solid is a convenient acyl (MIDA)boronate transfer agent that provides a direct entry to numerous otherwise inaccessible structures, including latent 1,4-dicarbonyl derivatives that can be transformed into B(MIDA) substituted pyrroles and furans. A competition experiment indicated the acyl (MIDA)boronate substituted radical to be more stable than the all-carbon acetonyl radical but somewhat less reactive in additions to alkenes.

Visible-light-induced coupling of carboxylic acids with alcohols/amines via a phosphorous linchpin strategy

The combination of activated carboxylic acids and alcohols/amines to access esters and amides, respectively, is a cornerstone of organic chemistry and has been well developed over the past century. These dehydrations are extensively used in medicinal chemistry and natural product synthesis due to the prevalence of these functional groups in bioactive molecules. Here, we report a divergent process from the expected ester/amide outcomes through a light-induced coupling of activated carboxylic acids and alcohols/amines to efficiently prepare α-hydroxy/amino ketones or β-ketophosphonates via single-electron chemistry. A phosphorus linchpin strategy allows for the combination of these simple reagents through an intramolecular triplet state radical process, thereby enabling new carbon-carbon bond formation.

A step-for-step main-group replica of the Fischer carbene synthesis at a borylene carbonyl

The Fischer carbene synthesis, involving the conversion of a transition metal (TM)-bound CO ligand to a carbene ligand of the form [=C(OR')R] (R, R' = organyl groups), is one of the seminal reactions in the history of organometallic chemistry. Carbonyl complexes of p-block elements, of the form [E(CO)_n] (E = main-group fragment), are much less abundant than their TM cousins; this scarcity and the general instability of low-valent p-block species means that replicating the historical reactions of TM carbonyls is often very difficult. Here we present a step-for-step replica of the Fischer carbene synthesis at a borylene carbonyl involving nucleophilic attack at the carbonyl carbon followed by electrophilic quenching at the resultant acylate oxygen atom. These reactions provide borylene acylates and alkoxy-/silyloxy-substituted alkylideneboranes, main-group analogues of the archetypal transition metal acylate and Fischer carbene families, respectively. When either the incoming electrophile or the boron center has a modest steric profile, the electrophile instead attacks at the boron atom, leading to carbene-stabilized acylboranes - boron analogues of the well-known transition metal acyl complexes. These results constitute faithful main-group replicas of a number of historical organometallic processes and pave the way to further advances in the field of main-group metallomimetics.

One-Step Synthesis of Acylborons from Acyl Chlorides through Copper-Catalyzed Borylation with Polystyrene-Supported PPh3 Ligand

We developed a one-step synthesis of acylborons from both readily available acyl chlorides and bis(pinacolato)diboron through copper(I)-catalyzed borylation. Under the reaction conditions using ^tBuOLi, polystyrene-supported triphenylphosphine as a copper ligand was found to promote the borylation of acyl chlorides while suppressing alcoholysis. This method enables the facile synthesis of potassium acyltrifluoroborates.

Visible-light-driven PhSSPh-catalysed regioselective hydroborylation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with NHC-boranes

A photo-induced transition-metal-free regioselective hydroborylation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds is developed. The PhSSPh reagent was employed as the photocatalyst, and NHC-BH₃ was used as the boron source. This transformation shows a broad substrate scope and provides a wide range of α-borylcarbonyl molecules in good to excellent yields.

Copper-Catalyzed Borylation of Acyl Chlorides with an Alkoxy Diboron Reagent: A Facile Route to Acylboron Compounds

Herein, the copper‐catalyzed borylation of readily available acyl chlorides with bis(pinacolato)diboron, (B₂pin₂) or bis(neopentane glycolato)diboron (B₂neop₂) is reported, which provides stable potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) in good yields from the acylboronate esters. A variety of functional groups are tolerated under the mild reaction conditions (room temperature) and substrates containing different carbon‐skeletons, such as aryl, heteroaryl and primary, secondary, tertiary alkyl are applicable. Acyl N‐methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates can also been accessed by modification of the workup procedures. This process is scalable and also amenable to the late‐stage conversion of carboxylic acid‐containing drugs into their acylboron analogues, which have been challenging to prepare previously. A catalytic mechanism is proposed based on in situ monitoring of the reaction between p‐toluoyl chloride and an NHC‐copper(I) boryl complex as well as the isolation of an unusual lithium acylBpinOBpin compound as a key intermediate.

Primary trifluoroborate-iminiums enable facile access to chiral α-aminoboronic acids via Ru-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation and simple hydrolysis of the trifluoroborate moiety

This work describes the first preparation and application of primary trifluoroborate-iminiums (pTIMs) as a new, easily accessible and valuable class of organoboron derivatives. An array of structurally diverse pTIMs was prepared from potassium acyltrifluoroborates in excellent yields. Highly efficient and enantioselective [(R,R)-TethTsDpen-RuCl] complex-catalyzed hydrogenation of pTIMs provided direct access to chiral primary trifluoroborate-ammoniums (pTAMs). Moreover, facile synthesis of a series of structurally diverse chiral α-aminoboronic acids from chiral pTAMs was accomplished through novel, operationally simple and efficient conversion using hexamethyldisiloxane/aqueous HCl. Using no chromatography at any point, this work allowed easy access to chiral α-aminoboronic acids, as exemplified by the synthesis of optically pure anti-cancer drugs bortezomib and ixazomib.

Starting with potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs), N-unprotected chiral α-aminoboronic acids are prepared in three simple steps without chromatography. This facile methodology will tap the broad potential of these valuable compounds.

Generation of (amino)(boryloxy)carbenes from carbamoylboranes and their coupling reaction with aldehydes

Carbamoylboranes were found to react with various aldehydes under heating conditions to give α-hydroxycarboxamides in good yields. A DFT study supports the mechanism, which involves thermally generated (amino)(boryloxy)carbene intermediates. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the generation of (amino)(boryloxy)carbene intermediates from carbamoylboranes and its application to carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions.

Carbon monoxide bond cleavage mediated by an intramolecular frustrated Lewis pair: access to new B/N heterocycles via selective incorporation of single carbon atoms

Utilizing an intramolecular frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) decorated with a strongly donating guanidino moiety enabled the formation of a thermally remarkably stable FLP-CO adduct, which at 120 °C underwent CO migration to form an acyl borane. Both compounds underwent rapid CO cleavage in the presence of strong electrophiles leading to the selective formation of a range of new 1,2- and 1,3-benzazaboroles in good yields under mild conditions.

α-Aminoboronates: recent advances in their preparation and synthetic applications

α-Aminoboronic acids and their derivatives are useful as bioactive agents. Thus far, three compounds containing an α-aminoboronate motif have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as protease inhibitors, and more are currently undergoing clinical trials. In addition, α-aminoboronic acids and their derivatives have found applications in organic synthesis, e.g. as α-aminomethylation reagents for the synthesis of chiral nitrogen-containing molecules, as nucleophiles for preparing valuable vicinal amino alcohols, and as bis-nucleophiles in the construction of valuable small molecule scaffolds. This review summarizes new methodology for the preparation of α-aminoboronates, including highlights of asymmetric synthetic methods and mechanistic explanations of reactivity. Applications of α-aminoboronates as versatile synthetic building blocks are also discussed.

A Convergent, Stereoselective Route to Trisubstituted Alkenyl Boronates

A modular, stereoselective route to trisubstituted (Z)-alkenyl (MIDA)boronates is described, consisting of the radical addition-fragmentation of dithiocarbonates to 2-(MIDA)boronyl-3-(2'-fluoro-pyridyl-6'-oxy)-alkenes. The bulky (MIDA)boronate ensures a highly stereoselective fragmentation that is enhanced by the poor stabilization of the radical adjacent to the tetravalent boron atom. The vinyl boronate precursors are prepared from propargyl alcohols by copper-catalyzed regioselective protoboration of their fluoropyridoxy derivatives, with the fluoropyridine acting as an internal directing group.

Acylboronates in Polarity-Reversed Generation of Acyl Palladium(II) Intermediates

We report a catalytic cross-coupling process between aryl (pseudo)halides and boron-based acyl anion equivalents. This mode of acylboronate reactivity represents polarity reversal, which is supported by the observation of tetracoordinated boronate and acyl palladium(II) species by ¹¹B, ³¹P NMR, and mass spectrometry. A broad scope of aliphatic and aromatic acylboronates has been examined, as well as a variety of aryl (pseudo)halides.

Copper-Catalyzed Carbonylative Coupling of Alkyl Halides

Transition metal-catalyzed carbonylation reactions represent a direct and atom-economical approach to introduce oxygen functionality into organic compounds, with CO acting as an inexpensive and readily available C1 feedstock. Despite the long history of carbonylation catalysis, including many processes that have been industrialized at bulk scale, there remain several challenges to tackle. For example, noble metals such as Pd, Rh, and Ir are typically used as catalysts for carbonylation reactions, rather than earth-abundant alternatives. Additionally, while carbonylation of C(sp²)-hybridized substrates (e.g., aryl halides) is well-known, carbonylation of unactivated alkyl electrophiles, especially where β-hydride elimination can compete with desired CO migratory insertion at the catalyst site, remains challenging for many systems. Recently, base metal catalysis based on Mn, Co, and other metals has enabled advances in carbonylative coupling of alkyl electrophiles, though the nucleophiles are often limited to alcohols or amines to generate esters or amides as products. Thus, we have targeted base metal-catalyzed carbonylative C-C and C-E (E = N, H, Si, B) coupling reactions as a method for approaching diverse carbonyl compounds of synthetic importance.Initially, we designed a heterobimetallic catalyst platform for carbonylative C-C coupling of alkyl halides with arylboronic esters (i.e., carbonylative Suzuki-Miyaura coupling) to generate aryl alkyl ketones. Subsequently, we developed multicomponent carbonylation reactions of alkyl halides using NHC-Cu catalysts (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene). These reactions operate by radical mechanisms, converting alkyl halides into either acyl radical or acyl halide intermediates that undergo subsequent C-C or C-E coupling at the Cu site. This mechanistic paradigm is relatively novel in the metal-catalyzed carbonylation area, allowing us to discover a previously unexplored chemical space in carbonylative coupling catalysis. We have successfully developed the following reactions: (a) hydrocarbonylative coupling of alkynes with alkyl halides; (b) borocarbonylative coupling of alkynes with alkyl halides; (c) reductive aminocarbonylation of alkyl halides with nitroarenes; (d) reductive carbonylation of alkyl halides; (e) carbonylative silylation of alkyl halides; (f) carbonylative borylation of alkyl halides. These reactions provide a broad range of valuable products including ketones, allylic alcohols, β-borylenones, amides, alcohols, acylsilanes, and acylborons in an efficient manner. Notably, the preparation of some of these products has previously required multistep syntheses, harsh conditions, or specialized reagents. By contrast, the multicomponent coupling platform that we have developed requires only readily available building blocks and rapidly increases molecular complexity in a single synthetic manipulation.

Acrylic boronate: a multifunctional C3 building block for catalytic synthesis of rare organoborons and chemoselective heterobifunctional ligations

A novel C3 acylboron building block; acrylic boronate was successfully prepared and its versatility for catalytic synthesis of several previously inaccessible organoborons is described. Cross-metathesis and Pd-catalyzed coupling of acrylic boronate enabled two complementary routes to highly functionalized α,β-unsaturated acylborons and two new types of conjugated borylated products: α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated and bis-α,β unsaturated acylborons. The synthetic application of α,β-unsaturated acylborons was demonstrated for the first time, thereby providing a general and highly regioselective route to medicinally important 3-boryl pyrazoles. Acrylic boronate also provided a unique bis-electrophilic platform for rapid and chemoselective labeling of cysteines with acylboron tags which are potentially useful for site-selective functionalization and orthogonal ligation of proteins.

Acyl metalloids: conformity and deviation from carbonyl reactivity

Once considered as mere curiosities, acyl metalloids are now recognized for their utility in enabling chemical synthesis. This perspective considers the reactivity displayed by acylboron, -silicon, -germanium, and tellurium species. By highlighting the role of these species in various transformations, we demonstrate how differences between the comprising elements result in varied reaction outcomes. While acylboron compounds are primarily used in polar transformations, germanium and tellurium species have found utility as radical precursors. Applications of acylsilanes are comparatively more diverse, owing to the possibility to access both radical and polar chemistry.

Rapid Access to Diverse Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) through Late-Stage Chemoselective Cross-Coupling Reactions

Potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) are opening up new avenues in chemical biology, materials science, and synthetic organic chemistry due to their intriguing reactivities. However, the synthesis of these compounds remains mostly complicated and time-consuming. Herein, we have developed chemoselective Pd-catalyzed approaches for the late-stage diversification of arenes bearing prefunctionalized KATs. These approaches feature chemoselective cross-coupling, rapid diversification, functional group tolerance, mild reaction conditions, simple operation, and high yields.

Reactivity of a magnesium diboranate with organic nitriles

A series of complexes generated through reactions of the β-diketiminato magnesium diboranate species, [(BDI)Mg{(n-Bu)pinB-Bpin}] (BDI = HC{(Me)CNDipp}2; Dipp = 2,6-di-iso-propylphenyl), and a variety of organic nitriles are reported. Although, in every case, the diboranate anion acts as a surrogate source of the {Bpin} nucleophile, resulting in B-C bond formation at the electrophilic sp-hydridised nitrile carbon, the resultant compounds display a variable propensity to undergo subsequent reaction with additional nitrile equivalents. This behaviour is rationalised to be a consequence of substituent-dependent modulation in the basicity and resultant electrophilicity of magnesium-coordinated nitrile intermediates.

One-Step Synthesis of Acylboron Compounds via Copper-Catalyzed Carbonylative Borylation of Alkyl Halides*

A copper-catalyzed carbonylative borylation of unactivated alkyl halides has been developed, enabling efficient synthesis of aliphatic potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) in high yields by treating the in situ formed tetracoordinated acylboron intermediates with aqueous KHF₂ . A variety of functional groups are tolerated under the mild reaction conditions, and primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl halides are all applicable. In addition, this method also provides facile access to N-methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) acylboronates as well as α-methylated potassium acyltrifluoroborates in a one-pot manner. Mechanistic studies indicate a radical atom transfer carbonylation (ATC) mechanism to form acyl halide intermediates that are subsequently borylated by (NHC)CuBpin.

The [(NHC)B(H)C6 F5 ]+ Cations and Their [B](H)-CO Borane Carbonyls

Hydride abstraction from the heterocyclic carbene borane adducts (NHC)BH₂ C₆ F₅ (NHC: IMes or IMe₄ ) gave the B-H containing [(NHC)B(H)C₆ F₅ ]⁺ borenium cations. They added carbon monoxide to give the respective [(NHC)B(H)(C₆ F₅ )CO]⁺ boron carbonyl cations. Carbon nucleophiles add to the boron carbonyl to give [B](H) acyls. Hydride reduced the [B]CO cation to hydroxymethylborane derivatives.

Synthesis of Acylboron Compounds

Acylboron compounds are emerging as versatile functional groups with applications in multiple research fields. Their synthesis, however, is still challenging and requires innovative methods. This Minireview provides an overview on the obstacles of acylboron synthesis and highlights notable advances within the last three years on new strategies to overcome the challenges posed by the formation of acyl-boron bonds.

Heavy-Metal-Free Fischer-Tropsch Type Reaction: Sequential Homologation of Alkylborane Using a Combination of CO and Hydrides as Methylene Source

Carbon homologation reactions occur within the well-known Fischer-Tropsch process, usually mediated by transition metal catalysts at high temperature. Here we report the low-temperature, heavy-metal-free homologation of a carbon chain using CO as a C₁-source showing for the first time that transition-metal catalysts are not required for Fischer-Tropsch-type reactivity. Reaction of an alkylborane in the presence of either LiHBEt₃ or LiAlH₄ resulted in multiple CO insertion/reduction events to afford elongated chains by more than two methylene (-CH₂-) units, affording aldehyde products upon oxidative aqueous workup. Theoretical and experimental mechanistic studies indicate that the boron terminus is responsible for CO incorporation as well as sequential hydride delivery leading to reduction of acylborane intermediates to alkylboranes.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Acylboranes and Their Widening Applicability

The most common types of acylboranes are acyltrifluoroborates, acyl MIDA-boronates, and monofluoroacylboronates. Because of the increasing importance of these compounds in the past decade, we highlight the recently reported synthetic strategies to access acylboranes. In addition, an expanding array of their applications has been discovered, based on either the ability of acylboranes to enter rapid amide-forming ligations or the retained ketone-like character of the carbonyl group. Therefore, we also describe ground-breaking achievements where acylboranes were successfully put to use, such as their utility in biochemical, material, and medicinal sciences.

Synthesis and Tunable Optical Properties of C,N-Chelated Borate Luminophores Derived from Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates

A new class of borate luminophores has been synthesized by a simple two-step reaction using potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) as starting materials. The hydrazones obtained from reactions between KATs and 2-hydrazinopyridines followed by a cyclization resulted in the unprecedented formation of C,N-chelated six-membered bora-heterocycles. Under consideration of the results of DFT and TD-DFT calculations, four luminophores based on such bora-heterocycles are designed and synthesized, which exhibit a tunable fluorescence range from blue to red in the solid state. Moreover, one of the luminophores exhibits mechanofluorochromism from blue to yellow/green. As a result of the aforementioned mechanochromism of one of these luminophores, white-color emission was achieved by simply mixing the four luminophores.

How to make C–N bonds using boronic acids and their derivatives without transition metals

No need for transition-metal catalysis in amination, amidation, nitration or nitrosation reactions with boron derivatives as reagents.

Diversity-Oriented Synthesis of α-Functionalized Acylborons and Borylated Heteroarenes by Nucleophilic Ring Opening of α-Chloroepoxyboronates

The ring-opening reactions of N-methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) α-chloroepoxyboronates with different nucleophiles allow the modular synthesis of a diverse array of organoboronates. These include seven types of α-functionalized acylboronates and seven types of borylated heteroarenes, some of which are difficult-to-access products using alternative methods. The common synthons, α-chloroepoxyboronates, could be viably synthesized by a two-step procedure from the corresponding alkenyl MIDA boronates. Mild reaction conditions, good functional-group tolerance, and generally good efficiency were observed. The utility of the products was also demonstrated.

Na2CO3-promoted thioesterification via N–C bond cleavage of amides to construct thioester derivatives

A mild, efficient, and transition-metal-free catalytic strategy is developed to construct thioesters via selective N–C bond cleavage of Boc2-activated primary amides. This strategy is successfully carried out with stoichiometric Na2CO3 as the base and provides the corresponding products in moderate to excellent yields.

Catalytic Synthesis of Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) through Chemoselective Cross-Coupling with a Bifunctional Reagent

Potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) are increasingly important functional groups, and general methods for their preparation are of great current interest. We report a bifunctional iminium reagent bearing both a tin nucleophile and a trifluoroborate, which was applied in chemoselective Pd⁰ -catalyzed Migita-Kosugi-Stille cross-coupling reactions owith aryl and vinyl halides. This method gives access to previously inaccessible aromatic and α,β-unsaturated acyltrifluoroborates, including precursors to amino-acid derived KATs.

A modular and concise approach to MIDA acylboronates via chemoselective oxidation of unsymmetrical geminal diborylalkanes: unlocking access to a novel class of acylborons

Novel and mild synthesis of MIDA acylboronates including a novel class of acylborons and first chemoselective oxidation of geminal diborylalkanes.

Acylboronates represent a very intriguing and rare class of organoboronates. Synthesis of these compounds from readily available substrates under mild conditions and access to novel classes of acylborons has been challenging. We report a novel and concise route to various MIDA acylboronates from terminal alkynes/alkenes or vinyl boronic esters using unsymmetrical geminal diborylalkanes as key intermediates. The high modularity and mild conditions of this strategy allowed a facile access to acylboronates possessing aliphatic, aromatic as well as the rarer heteroaromatic, alkynyl and α,β-unsaturated scaffolds. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of chemoselective oxidation of geminal diborons as well as synthesis of an α,β-unsaturated acylboronate.

Concise Synthesis of Potassium Acyltrifluoroborates from Aldehydes through Copper(I)-Catalyzed Borylation/Oxidation

Potassium acyltrifluoroborates (KATs) were prepared through copper(I)-catalyzed borylation of aldehydes and subsequent oxidation. This synthetic route is characterized by the wide range of aldehydes accessible, favorable step economy, mild reaction conditions, and tolerance of various functional groups, and it enables the facile generation of a range of KATs, for example, bearing halide, sulfide, acetal, or ester moieties. Moreover, this method was applied to the three-step synthesis of various α-amino acid analogues that bear a KAT moiety on the C-terminus by using naturally occurring amino acids as the starting material.

Regio- and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Cyclohexadienylborons via an Intermolecular Diels-Alder Reaction of Alkenyl MIDA Boronates with 2-Pyrones

An efficient synthesis of highly functionalized cyclohexadienylborons via an inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder reaction/CO₂ extrusion of alkenyl MIDA boronates with 2-pyrones is outlined. By controlling the reaction temperature, the corresponding C(sp³ )-rich bicyclolactones could also be readily formed. The exo-selective reactions feature good functional-group tolerance, broad substrate scope, and excellent regio- and diastereoselectivity. Oxidation of the cyclohexadienylborons in a one-pot procedure led to the construction of aromatic boronates bearing valuable functional groups. Synthetic transformations of the C-B bond were demonstrated.

α-C–H borylation of secondary alcohols via Ru/Fe relay catalysis: building a platform for alcoholic C–H/C–O functionalizations

An unprecedented α-C–H borylation of secondary alcohols was successfully achieved and delivered various tertiary α-boryl alcohols. Several alcoholic α-C–H and C–O bond functionalizations were carried out to demonstrate this approach.