The hydroboration of 3-butenyl derivatives with 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane

The hydroboration of 3-butenyl derivatives, CH₂CHCH₂CH₂X where X represents OH, OMe, OAc, Cl, as well as the related carboxylic ester, CH₂CHCH₂COOEt, and the nitrile CH₂CHCH₂CN, with 9-borabicyclo3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) proceeds with remarkably high regio-selectivity. The boron is placed essentially on the terminal carbon (?98%), yielding stable organoboranes which can be readily oxidized to alcohols or subjected to other reactions. The yields of alcohols in the hydroboration-oxidation procedure are satisfactory, in the range of 82–99%. The hydroxy group liberates hydrogen rapidly and quantitatively but no further reaction is observed and hydroboration of the carboncarbon double bond then proceeds normally. The chloro and methoxy groups are not affected by 9-BBN, whereas, the ester and nitrile groups are slightly (1.5–4.0%) reduced by the reagent at 25°C. Even this small amount of reduction can be circumvented or minimized by carrying out the hydroboration at 0°C. Although this procedure requires somewhat longer reaction times, the products are cleaner and the yields are higher.