Enantioselective Synthesis of (E)‐δ‐Boryl‐Substituted anti‐Homoallylic Alcohols Using Palladium and a Chiral Phosphoric Acid

(E )‐δ‐Boryl‐substituted anti ‐homoallylic alcohols are synthesized in a highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective manner from 1,1‐di(boryl)alk‐3‐enes and aldehydes. Mechanistically, the reaction consists of 1) palladium‐catalyzed double‐bond transposition of the 1,1‐di(boryl)alk‐3‐enes to 1,1‐di(boryl)alk‐2‐enes, 2) chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed allylation of aldehydes, and 3) palladium‐catalyzed geometrical isomerization from the Z to E isomer. As a result, the configurations of two chiral centers and one double bond are all controlled with high selectivity in a single reaction vessel.     

Four‐Component Borocarbonylation of Vinylarenes Enabled by Cooperative Cu/Pd Catalysis: Access to β‐Boryl Ketones and β‐Boryl Vinyl Esters

We report here a general four‐component synthetic procedure for the preparation of β‐boryl ketones and β‐boryl vinyl esters. Joint catalyzed by palladium and copper catalysts, borocarbonylative reaction between vinylarenes, aryl halides/triflates, B₂Pin₂, and carbon monoxide proceed successfully. A variety of synthetically useful β‐boryl ketones were synthesized in good to high yields by using aryl iodides as the substrates. It is noteworthy that when aryl triflates were applied as the starting materials, β‐boryl vinyl esters were synthesized in a similar manner and with broad functional group tolerance. A rational mechanism for this reaction was also proposed.     

Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Synthesis of (E)‐δ‐Boryl‐Substituted anti‐Homoallylic Alcohols in Two Steps from Terminal Alkynes

We report the highly diastereo‐ and enantioselective preparation of (E)‐δ‐boryl‐substituted anti‐homoallylic alcohols in two steps from terminal alkynes. This method consists of a cobalt(II)‐catalyzed 1,1‐diboration reaction of terminal alkynes with B₂pin₂ and a palladium(I)‐mediated asymmetric allylation reaction of the resulting 1,1‐di(boryl)alk‐1‐enes with aldehydes in the presence of a chiral phosphoric acid. Propyne, which is produced as the byproduct during petroleum refining, could be used as the starting material to construct homoallylic alcohols that are otherwise difficult to synthesize with high stereocontrol.     

Palladium- and nickel-catalyzed intramolecular cyanoboration of alkynes

Intramolecular addition of a boron-cyano bond across a carbon-carbon triple bond was achieved using palladium and nickel catalysts. Cyano(diisopropylamino)boryl homopropargyl ethers underwent regio- and stereoselective 5-exo cyclization, forming five-membered cyclic boryl ethers in high yields. The cyanoboration products thus obtained served as new precursors for the synthesis of highly substituted alpha,beta-unsaturated nitriles via transition-metal-catalyzed transformations.     

Intramolecular cyanoboration of alkynes via activation of boron-cyanide bonds by transition metal catalysts

Cyano(dialkylamino)boryl ethers of homopropargylic alcohols undergo intramolecular addition of a B-CN bond across their carbon-carbon triple bonds (cyanoboration) in the presence of palladium and nickel catalysts, furnishing five-membered cyclic boryl ethers regioselectively in good yields via 5-exo cyclization. The products were transformed into highly substituted α,β-unsaturated nitriles via Suzuki-Miyaura coupling to aryl iodides, rhodium-catalyzed conjugative addition to methyl vinyl ketone, and rhodium-catalyzed protodeborylation.     

Intensely Fluorescent Azobenzenes: Synthesis,Crystal Structures,Effects of Substituents,and Application to Fluorescent Vital Stain

2‐[Bis(pentafluorophenyl)boryl]azobenzenes bearing hydrogen, methoxy, dimethylamino, trifluoromethyl, fluoro, n‐butyl, and tert‐butyldimethylsiloxy groups at the 4′‐position or methoxy and bromo groups at the 4‐position have been synthesized. The 4‐bromo group of the 2‐boryl‐4‐bromoazobenzene derivative was converted to phenyl and diphenylamino groups by palladium‐catalyzed reactions. The absorption and fluorescence properties have been investigated using UV/Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The 2‐borylazobenzenes emitted an intense green, yellow, and orange fluorescence, in marked contrast to the usual azobenzene fluorescence. The 4′‐siloxy derivative showed the highest fluorescence quantum yield (0.90) among those reported for azobenzenes to date. The correlation between the substituent and the fluorescence properties was elucidated by studying the effect of the substituent on the relaxation process and from DFT and TD‐DFT calculations. An electron‐donating group at the 4′‐position was found to be important for an intense emission. Application of fluorescent azobenzenes as a fluorescent vital stain for the visualization of living tissues was also investigated by microinjection into Xenopus embryos, suggesting these compounds are nontoxic towards embryos.     

Esters as Radical Acceptors: β‐NHC‐Borylalkenyl Radicals Induce Lactonization by C−C Bond Formation/Cleavage on Esters

Substituted propargyl acetates are converted into 4‐boryl‐2(5H)‐furanones upon thermolysis in the presence of an N‐heterocyclic carbene borane (NHC‐borane) and di‐tert‐butyl peroxide. The acetyl methyl group is lost during the reaction as methane. Evidence suggests that the reaction proceeds by a sequence of radical events including: 1) addition of an NHC‐boryl radical to the triple bond; 2) cyclization of the resultant β‐borylalkenyl radical to the ester carbonyl group; 3) β‐scission of the so‐formed alkoxy radical to provide the 4‐boryl‐2(5H)‐furanone and a methyl radical; and 4) hydrogen abstraction from the NHC‐borane to return the initial NHC‐boryl radical and methane.     

Synthesis of γ‐Boryl‐Substituted Homoallylic Alcohols with anti Stereochemistry Based on a Double‐Bond Transposition

The stereoselective synthesis of anti isomers of γ‐boryl‐substituted homoallylic alcohols is disclosed. (E)‐1,2‐Di(boryl)alk‐1‐enes undergo Ru‐catalyzed double‐bond transposition with control of the geometry. The in situ generated (E)‐1,2‐di(boryl)alk‐2‐enes add to aldehydes in a stereospecific manner. The alkenylboron group within the product is amenable to a variety of synthetic derivatizations.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Diborylation of 1,1‐disubstituted Vinylarenes: A Practical Route to Branched gem‐Bis(boryl)alkanes

We report the first catalytic diborylation of 1,1‐disubstituted vinylarenes with pinacolborane using a cobalt catalyst generated from bench‐stable Co(acac)₂ and xantphos. A wide range of 1,1‐disubstituted vinylarenes underwent this transformation to produce the corresponding gem‐bis(boryl)alkanes in modest to high yields. This cobalt‐catalyzed reaction can be readily conducted on a gram scale without the use of a dry box and represents a practical and effective approach to prepare a wide range of branched gem‐bis(boryl)alkanes.     

A Boryl‐Substituted Diphosphene: Synthesis,Structure, and Reaction with n‐Butyllithium To Form a Stabilized Adduct by pπ‐pπ Interaction

A boryl‐substituted diphosphene was synthesized through the nucleophilic borylation of PCl₃ with a borylzinc reagent, followed by a reduction with Mg. A combined analysis of the resulting diboryldiphosphene by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, DFT calculations, and UV/Vis spectroscopy revealed a σ‐electron‐donating effect for the boryl substituent that was slightly weaker than that of the 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl (Mes*) ligand. The reaction of this diboryldiphosphene with ⁿBuLi afforded a boryl‐substituted phosphinophosphide that was, in comparison with the thermally unstable Mes*‐substituted diaryldiphosphene, stabilized by a π‐electron‐accepting effect of the boryl substituent.     

New Radical Borylation Pathways for Organoboron Synthesis Enabled by Photoredox Catalysis

Radical borylation using N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐BH₃ complexes as boryl radical precursors has emerged as an important synthetic tool for organoboron assembly. However, the majority of reported methods are limited to reaction modes involving carbo‐ and/or hydroboration of specific alkenes and alkynes. Moreover, the generation of NHC‐boryl radicals relies principally on hydrogen atom abstraction with the aid of radical initiators. A distinct radical generation method is reported, as well as the reaction pathways of NHC‐boryl radicals enabled by photoredox catalysis. NHC‐boryl radicals are generated via a single‐electron oxidation and subsequently undergo cross‐coupling with the in‐situ‐generated radical anions to yield gem‐difluoroallylboronates. A photoredox‐catalyzed radical arylboration reaction of alkenes was achieved using cyanoarenes as arylating components from which elaborated organoborons were accessed. Mechanistic studies verified the oxidative formation of NHC‐boryl radicals through a single‐electron‐transfer pathway.     

Synthesis of β‐Boryl‐α‐Aminosilanes by Copper‐Catalyzed Aminoboration of Vinylsilanes

A copper‐catalyzed regioselective and stereospecific aminoboration of vinylsilanes with bis(pinacolato)diboron (pinB‐Bpin) and hydroxylamines has been developed. In the presence of a CuCl/MeO‐dppbz catalyst, the boryl group and amino group are incorporated at the β position and α position, respectively, and the corresponding β‐boryl‐α‐aminosilanes are obtained with good diastereoselectivity. The boryl group is a good latent functional group, and subsequent manipulations provide a variety of β‐functionalized α‐aminosilanes of great potential in medicinal chemistry. Additionally, preliminary application to asymmetric catalysis is also described.     

A Boryl‐Substituted Diphosphene: Synthesis,Structure, and Reaction with n‐Butyllithium To Form a Stabilized Adduct by pπ‐pπ Interaction

A boryl‐substituted diphosphene was synthesized through the nucleophilic borylation of PCl₃ with a borylzinc reagent, followed by a reduction with Mg. A combined analysis of the resulting diboryldiphosphene by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, DFT calculations, and UV/Vis spectroscopy revealed a σ‐electron‐donating effect for the boryl substituent that was slightly weaker than that of the 2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl (Mes*) ligand. The reaction of this diboryldiphosphene with ⁿBuLi afforded a boryl‐substituted phosphinophosphide that was, in comparison with the thermally unstable Mes*‐substituted diaryldiphosphene, stabilized by a π‐electron‐accepting effect of the boryl substituent.     

Base‐Stabilized Boryl and Cationic Haloborylene Complexes of Iron

The synthesis of base‐stabilized boryl and borylene complexes is reported. An N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC)‐stabilized iron–dihydroboryl complex was prepared by two different routes including methane liberation and salt elimination. A range of base‐stabilized iron–dichloroboryl complexes was prepared by addition of Lewis bases to boryl complexes. Base‐stabilized, cationic monochloroborylene complexes were synthesized from these boryl complexes by halide abstraction by using weakly coordinating anions.     

Cobalt Boryl Complexes: Enabling and Exploiting Migratory Insertion in Base‐Metal‐Mediated Borylation

Cobalt boryl complexes, which have only been sporadically reported, can be accessed systematically with remarkable (but controllable) variation in the nature of the M? B bond. Complexes incorporating a very strong trans σ‐donor display unparalleled inertness, reflected in retention of the M? B bond even in the presence of extremely strong acid. By contrast, the use of the strong π‐acceptor CO in the trans position, results in significant Co? B elongation and to labilization of the boryl ligand via unprecedented CO migratory insertion. Such chemistry provides a pathway for the generation of coordinative unsaturation, thereby enabling ligand substitution and/or substrate assimilation. Alkene functionalization by boryl transfer, a well‐known reaction for noble metals such as Rh or Pt, can thus be effected by an 18‐electron base‐metal complex.     

Synergistic Effects of Lewis Bases and Substituents on the Electronic Structure and Reactivity of Boryl Radicals

Boryl radicals have the potential for the development of new molecular entities and for application in new radical reactions. However, the effects of the substituents and coordinating Lewis bases on the reactivity of boryl radicals are not fully understood. By using first‐principles methods, we investigated the spin‐density distribution and reactivity of a series of boryl radicals with various substituents and Lewis bases. The substituents, along with the Lewis bases, only affect the radical reactivity when an unpaired electron is in the boron p_z orbital, that is, for three‐coordinate radicals. We found evidence of synergistic effects between the substituents and the Lewis bases that can substantially broaden the tunability of the reactivity of the boryl radicals. Among Lewis bases, pyridine and imidazol‐2‐ylidene show a similar capacity for stabilization by delocalizing the spin density. Electron‐donating substituents, such as nitrogen, more efficiently stabilize boryl radicals than oxygen and carbon atoms. The reactivity of a boryl radical is always boron based, irrespective of the spin density on boron.     

Isolation of a Neutral Boron‐Containing Radical Stabilized by a Cyclic (Alkyl)(Amino)Carbene

Utilizing a cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) as a ligand, neutral CAAC‐stabilized radicals containing a boryl functionality could be prepared by reduction of the corresponding haloborane adducts. The radical species with a duryl substituent was fully characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray structural analysis, EPR spectroscopy, and DFT calculations. Compared to known neutral boryl radicals, the isolated radical species showed larger spin density on the boron atom. Furthermore, the compound that was isolated is extraordinarily stable to high temperatures under inert conditions, both in solution and in the solid state. Electrochemical investigations of the radical suggest the possibility to generate a stable formal boryl anion species.     

A Strap Strategy for Construction of an Excited‐State Intramolecular Proton Transfer (ESIPT) System with Dual Fluorescence

An amine‐embedded flexible alkyl strap has been incorporated into an emissive boryl‐substituted dithienylpyrrole skeleton as a new entity of excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) chromophores. The π‐electron system shows a dual emission, which covers a wide range of the visible region depending on the solvent polarity. The incorporation of the aminoalkyl strap as well as the terminal boryl groups efficiently stabilize the zwitterionic excited‐state species resulting from the ESIPT even in an aqueous medium.     

Electronic Delocalization in Two and Three Dimensions: Differential Aggregation in Indium “Metalloid” Clusters

Reduction of indium boryl precursors to give two‐ and three‐dimensional M−M bonded networks is influenced by the choice of supporting ligand. While the unprecedented nanoscale cluster [In₆₈(boryl)₁₂]⁻ (with an In₁₂@In₄₄@In₁₂(boryl)₁₂ concentric structure), can be isolated from the potassium reduction of a bis(boryl)indium(III) chloride precursor, analogous reduction of the corresponding (benzamidinate)In^IIIBr(boryl) system gives a near‐planar (and weakly aromatic) tetranuclear [In₄(boryl)₄]²⁻ system.     

Borane–Lewis Base Complexes as Homolytic Hydrogen Atom Donors

Radical stabilization energies (RSE)s have been calculated for a variety of boryl radicals complexed to Lewis bases at the G3(MP2)‐RAD level of theory. These are referenced to the B? H bond dissociation energy (BDE) in BH₃ determined at W4.3 level. High RSE values (and thus low BDE(B? H) values) have been found for borane complexes of a variety of five‐ and six‐membered ring heterocycles. Variations of RSE values have been correlated with the strength of Lewis acid–Lewis base complex formation at the boryl radical stage. The analysis of charge‐ and spin‐density distributions shows that spin delocalization in the boryl radical complexes constitutes one of the mechanisms of radical stabilization.