Nucleophilic Boron Research Articles

A Rationally Designed Iron(II) Catalyst for C(sp3)−C(sp2) and C(sp3)−C(sp3) Suzuki–Miyaura Cross‐Coupling

AbstractDespite the paramount importance of the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling (SMC) in academia and industry, and the great promise of iron to offer sustainable catalysis, iron‐catalyzed SMC involving sp3‐hybridized partners is still in its infancy. We herein report the development of a versatile, well‐defined electron‐deficient anilido‐aldimine iron(II) catalyst. This catalyst effectively performed C(sp3)−C(sp2) and C(sp3)−C(sp3) SMC of alkyl halide electrophiles and (hetero)aryl boronic ester and alkyl borane nucleophiles respectively, in the presence of a lithium amide base. These couplings operated under mild reaction conditions and displayed wide functional group compatibility including various medicinally relevant N‐, O‐ and S‐based heterocycles. They also tolerated primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl halides (Br, Cl, I), electron‐neutral, ‐rich and ‐poor boronic esters and primary and secondary alkyl boranes. Our methodology could be directly and efficiently applied to synthesize key intermediates relevant to pharmaceuticals and a potential drug candidate. For C(sp3)−C(sp2) couplings, radical probe experiments militated in favor of a carbon‐centered radical derived from the electrophile. At the same time, reactions run with a pre‐formed activated boron nucleophile coupled to competition experiments supported the involvement of neutral, rather than an anionic, (hetero)aryl boronic ester in the key transmetalation step.

A Rationally Designed Iron(II) Catalyst for C(sp3)-C(sp2) and C(sp3)-C(sp3) Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Coupling.

Despite the paramount importance of the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling (SMC) in academia and industry, and the great promise of iron to offer sustainable catalysis, iron-catalyzed SMC involving sp3-hybridized partners is still in its infancy. We herein report the development of a versatile, well-defined electron-deficient anilido-aldimine iron(II) catalyst. This catalyst effectively performed C(sp3)-C(sp2) and C(sp3)-C(sp3) SMC of alkyl halide electrophiles and (hetero)aryl boronic ester and alkyl borane nucleophiles respectively, in the presence of a lithium amide base. These couplings operated under mild reaction conditions and displayed wide functional group compatibility including various medicinally relevant N-, O- and S-based heterocycles. They also tolerated primary, secondary and tertiary alkyl halides (Br, Cl, I), electron-neutral, -rich and -poor boronic esters and primary and secondary alkyl boranes. Our methodology could be directly and efficiently applied to synthesize key intermediates relevant to pharmaceuticals and a potential drug candidate. For C(sp3)-C(sp2) couplings, radical probe experiments militated in favor of a carbon-centered radical derived from the electrophile. At the same time, reactions run with a pre-formed activated boron nucleophile coupled to competition experiments supported the involvement of neutral, rather than an anionic, (hetero)aryl boronic ester in the key transmetalation step.

Nickel-Catalyzed Electrophilic Amination of the Biphenylene C-C σ-Bond.

A nickel-catalyzed three-component carboamination of the biphenylene C-C σ-bond has been developed. Arylboronates and hydroxylamine derivatives work as carbon nucleophiles and nitrogen electrophiles, respectively, and the corresponding difunctionalized ring-opening products are obtained in good yields. The arylboronate nucleophile can be replaced with B2pin2 (boron nucleophile) and H-Si(OMe)3 (hydride nucleophile), thus allowing for the aminoboration and hydroamination of the biphenylene C-C σ-bond under similar nickel catalysis.

Desymmetrization of Cyclohexadienones Containing a Quaternary γ-Carbon Atom by Conjugate Addition of Boron Nucleophiles

Desymmetrization of Cyclohexadienones Containing a Quaternary γ-Carbon Atom by Conjugate Addition of Boron Nucleophiles

Catalyst-Controlled Enantioselective and Regiodivergent Addition of Aryl Boron Nucleophiles to N-Alkyl Nicotinate Salts.

Dihydropyridines are versatile building blocks for the synthesis of pyridines, tetrahydropyridines, and piperidines. Addition of nucleophiles to activated pyridinium salts allows synthesis of 1,2-, 1,4-, or 1,6-dihydropyridines; however, this process often leads to a mixture of constitutional isomers. Catalyst-controlled regioselective addition of nucleophiles to pyridiniums has the potential to solve this problem. Herein, we report that the regioselective addition of boron-based nucleophiles to pyridinium salts can be accomplished by the choice of a Rh catalyst.

Pretransmetalation Intermediates in Suzuki–Miyaura C–C and Carbonylative Cross-Couplings: Synthesis and Structural Authentication of Aryl- and Aroylnickel(II) Boronates

Covalently tethering a supporting ligand to a boron nucleophile allowed typically elusive, kinetically unstable Suzuki–Miyaura (SM) pretransmetalation species to be tamed. This strategy enabled the synthesis and X-ray crystallographic characterization of an organonickel(II) boronate pretransmetalation intermediate. Performing reactions in the presence of carbon monoxide delivered pretransmetalation intermediates in carbonylative SM reactions–aroylmetal boronates. This enabled the X-ray crystal structure of an aroylnickel(II) boronate (and an aroylpalladium(II) boronate) to be secured.

General Synthesis of Trialkyl- and Dialkylarylsilylboranes: Versatile Silicon Nucleophiles in Organic Synthesis.

Compared to carbon-based nucleophiles, the number of silicon-based nucleophiles that is currently available remains limited, which significantly hampers the structural diversity of synthetically accessible silicon-based molecules. Given the high synthetic utility and ease of handling of carbon-based boron nucleophiles, silicon-based boron nucleophiles, i.e., silylboranes, have attracted considerable interest in recent years as nucleophilic silylation reagents that are activated by transition-metal catalysts or bases. However, the range of practically accessible silylboranes remains limited. In particular, the preparation of sterically hindered and functionalized silylboranes remains a significant challenge. Here, we report the use of rhodium and platinum catalysts for the direct borylation of hydrosilanes with bis(pinacolato)diboron, which allows the synthesis of new trialkylsilylboranes that bear bulky alkyl groups and functional groups as well as new dialkylarylsilylboranes that are difficult to synthesize via conventional methods using alkali metals. We further demonstrate that these compounds can be used as silicon nucleophiles in organic transformations, which significantly expands the scope of synthetically accessible organosilicon compounds compared to previously reported methods. Thus, the present study can be expected to inspire the development of efficient methods for novel silicon-containing bioactive molecules and organic materials with desirable properties. We also report the first 11B{1H} and 29Si{1H} NMR spectroscopic evidence for the formation of i-Pr3SiLi generated by the reaction of i-Pr3Si-B(pin) with MeLi.

The 9H-9-Borafluorene Dianion: A Surrogate for Elusive Diarylboryl Anion Nucleophiles.

Double reduction of the THF adduct of 9H‐9‐borafluorene (1⋅THF) with excess alkali metal affords the dianion salts M2[1] in essentially quantitative yields (M=Li–K). Even though the added charge is stabilized through π delocalization, [1]2− acts as a formal boron nucleophile toward organoboron (1⋅THF) and tetrel halide electrophiles (MeCl, Et3SiCl, Me3SnCl) to form B−B/C/Si/Sn bonds. The substrate dependence of open‐shell versus closed‐shell pathways has been investigated.

Cu-Catalyzed Silylation and Borylation of Vinylidene Cyclopropanes.

A Cu-catalyzed addition of silicon or boron nucleophiles to vinylidene cyclopropanes is reported. The reactions generated propargylic silane or boron products by forming a C-Si or C-B bond at the terminal carbon of the allene moiety of vinylidene cyclopropanes. The obtained silicon and boron reagents are versatile intermediates that can undergo a variety of transformations to give synthetically useful products. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated a copper enolate was involved in the reaction process.

Extending the Library of Boron Bases: A Contribution from Theory

In recent years, the isolation of nucleophilic boron bases led to a paradigm shift in boron chemistry which prompted us to perform computational studies on a series of bis(carbene) borylene complexes. The structure and electronic properties of these complexes have been studied, and all of them were found to possess strong donor ability as evident from high values of calculated pKa and proton affinities (244–300 kcal mol–1). The ability to form strong donor–acceptor bond between the boron and carbene center, together with the high thermodynamic stability of the complexes, render them as a promising class of ligands for use in transition metal based systems. The comparable bond dissociation energies of hitherto unknown acyclic (3A–5A, 8A, 15A, 18A, 19A, and 21A) and cyclic borylenes (2C–5C, 9C, 10C, and 15C) to that of the synthetically accessible borylenes (2A, 7A, 9A, and 16A) indicate the likelihood of isolation of these hitherto unknown borylenes.

A New Perspective on Borane Chemistry: The Nucleophilicity of the B-H Bonding Pair Electrons.

A number of recently discovered nucleophilic boron compounds, such as boryl anions and borylenes, are breaking the rules regarding boron and boron-containing compounds and their reputation as Lewis acids/electrophiles. In a similar fashion, the B-H bonding pair electrons in boranes also show nucleophilicity which is ascribed to the lower electronegativity of boron relative to that of hydrogen. However, this nucleophilicity of the B-H bond has received far less attention. Explorations of the nucleophilicity of the B-H bonding pair electrons have led to the formation of B-H-B bonded units and B-H⋅⋅⋅H-Y dihydrogen bonds, based on which new chemistry has been uncovered, including the elucidation of the mechanism of formation of aminodiborane (ADB), the diammoniate of diborane (DADB), and lithium or sodium salts of octahydrotriborates (B3 H8 - ), as well as the development of more convenient and straightforward synthetic routes to these reagents. Moreover, the recognition of the nucleophilic properties of the B-H bonding pair electrons will also help to more deeply understand the different mechanisms operating in hydroboration reactions.

Synthesis of a hydrogen-bridged tetraborane(6): a substituent effect of a diaminoboryl group toward the B-B multiple bond character.

A hydrogen-bridging tetraborane(6) was synthesized from boryllithium, a boron nucleophile, in three steps. The structural and spectroscopic analyses of the tetraborane(6) revealed σ-donor and π-acceptor effects of diaminoboryl substituents toward the central B-B moiety having a multiple bond character. DFT calculations also supported the experimentally observed substituent effect of the boryl group.

Facile Synthesis of a Stable Dihydroboryl {BH2 }- Anion.

While the one-electron reduction of (CAACMe )BH2 Br (CAACMe =1-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-3,3,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene) yields a hydride-shift isomer of the corresponding tetrahydrodiborane, a further reversible reduction leads to the first stable parent boryl anion, [(CAACMe )BH2 ]- , which acts as a powerful boron nucleophile.

Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Diboranes by Diborane Metathesis.

Reactions of readily accessible magnesium-centered pinacolatoboryl nucleophiles with [(Ph2 B)2 O] result in B-O bond activation of the diphenylborinic anhydride. Although [pinBBPh2 ] is apparently generated when the nucleophilic boron unit is derived in situ from a magnesium diboranate, it cannot be isolated owing to its onward derivatization by a further {Bpin}- equivalent. A reaction with a terminal magnesium boryl species similarly provides a boryloxide byproduct. In this case, however, the unsymmetrical B(sp2 )-B(sp3 ) diborane may be intercepted as its DMAP adduct.

Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Diboranes by Diborane Metathesis

AbstractReactions of readily accessible magnesium‐centered pinacolatoboryl nucleophiles with [(Ph2B)2O] result in B−O bond activation of the diphenylborinic anhydride. Although [pinBBPh2] is apparently generated when the nucleophilic boron unit is derived in situ from a magnesium diboranate, it cannot be isolated owing to its onward derivatization by a further {Bpin}− equivalent. A reaction with a terminal magnesium boryl species similarly provides a boryloxide byproduct. In this case, however, the unsymmetrical B(sp2)−B(sp3) diborane may be intercepted as its DMAP adduct.

From Borane to Borylene without Reduction: Ambiphilic Behavior of a Monovalent Silylisonitrile Boron Species.

Deprotonation of [(cAAC)BH2 (CN)] provided clean access to the stable boryl anion, [(cAAC)BH(CN)]- . Whereas the addition of soft electrophiles occurred at the nucleophilic boron center, harder silyl electrophiles added to the harder terminal cyano nitrogen. The resulting [(cAAC)BH(CNSiPh3 )] species behaved like a silylium boryl nucleophile as well as a neutral silylisonitrile borylene.

A DFT Study on the Stabilization of the B≡B Triple Bond in a Metallaborocycle: Contrasting Electronic Structures of Boron and Carbon Analogues.

The electronic structure of (η5 -Cp)2 Zr(NH2 -BB-NH2 ) (3 b) suggests that it could be a candidate for having a boron-boron triple bond in the cyclic system; however, computational studies shows that 3 b is a very high energy isomer on its potential energy surface. Replacement of amines with tricoordinate nucleophilic boron groups (η5 -Cp)2 Zr[B(PH3 )2 -BB-B(PH3 )2 ] (3 c) reduces the relative energy dramatically. The B≡B triple bond arises through the donation of two electrons from the metal fragment, ZrCp2 , to the in-plane π-bonding orbital of the central B-B unit. Strong σ-donating and chelating bis-phosphine ligands (Me2 P(CH2 )n PMe2 ), which stabilize donor-acceptor bonding interaction in gem-diborene L2 B-BBr2 (10), would be a good choice along the synthetic path towards 3 d, (η5 -Cp)2 Zr[B4 (Me2 P(CH2 )3 PMe2 )2 ]. A comparison of the energetics of the reaction leading to a cyclic boryne system (3 d), with the linear boryne isomer [(B2 NHCPh )2 ] shows that the angle strain from cyclization is compensated by stabilization from the metal.

Reaction of the Tricyanoborate Dianion [B(CN)3]2- with HgCl2.

The very reactive [B(CN)3]2- dianion has a strongly nucleophilic boron atom and can be used for the synthesis of tricyanoborates, which otherwise are difficult to access. Herein the reaction of this anion with HgCl2 is reported. The main product is the anionic mercury complex [Hg(B(CN)3)2]2-. Heteronuclear NMR spectroscopic experiments shows that the reaction proceeds via the intermediate [ClHgB(CN)3]2-. Even though [Hg(B(CN)3)2]2- is the main product, it is difficult to obtain it in pure form, because it slowly decomposes in the presence of water and air to [(NC)HgB(CN)3]-. All three anions were fully characterized by hetereonuclear NMR spectroscopy (11B, 13C, and 199Hg). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of the salts K[ClHgB(CN)3], [Ph4P]2[Hg(B(CN)3)2], K[(NC)HgB(CN)3], and [Ph4P][(NC)HgB(CN)3] revealed linear coordination environments around mercury for all anions. The Hg-B bonds range from 2.219(5) Å in [Hg(B(CN)3)2]2- to 2.148(11) Å in [ClHgB(CN)3]-, are in accord with the sum of the covalent radii of mercury and boron, and can be described as covalent single bonds. A comparison with related complexes indicates that the [B(CN)3]2- dianion is a stronger ligand than chloride, cyanide, or carbenes. [Hg(B(CN)3)2]2- hydrolyses in solution only in the presence of oxygen. It is suggested that cis-[Hg(OH)2(B(CN)3)2]2- is formed as a very unstable intermediate, which decomposes very fast to [(NC)HgB(CN)3]- and other products. The anion cis-[Hg(OH)2(B(CN)3)2]2- would contain mercury in the unusual oxidation state +IV. Quantum-chemical calculations were performed to support this assumption.

Easy access to nucleophilic boron through diborane to magnesium boryl metathesis

Organoboranes are some of the most synthetically valuable and widely used intermediates in organic and pharmaceutical chemistry. Their synthesis, however, is limited by the behaviour of common boron starting materials as archetypal Lewis acids such that common routes to organoboranes rely on the reactivity of boron as an electrophile. While the realization of convenient sources of nucleophilic boryl anions would open up a wealth of opportunity for the development of new routes to organoboranes, the synthesis of current candidates is generally limited by a need for highly reducing reaction conditions. Here, we report a simple synthesis of a magnesium boryl through the heterolytic activation of the B–B bond of bis(pinacolato)diboron, which is achieved by treatment of an easily generated magnesium diboranate complex with 4-dimethylaminopyridine. The magnesium boryl is shown to act as an unambiguous nucleophile through its reactions with iodomethane, benzophenone and N,N′-di-isopropyl carbodiimide and by density functional theory.

A snapshot of inorganic Janovsky complex analogues featuring a nucleophilic boron center.

The addition of phenyl lithium (PhLi) to an aromatic 1,3,2,5-diazadiborinine (1) afforded isolable ionic species 2, which can be deemed as an inorganic analogue of a Janovsky complex. X-ray diffraction analysis and DFT studies of 2 indicate the delocalization of π-type electrons mainly over the C-B-C unit in the central B2C2N2 six-membered ring. The reactions of 2 with methyl iodide (MeI) and chloro(tricyclohexylphosphine)gold(i) (Cy3PAuCl) gave 3 bearing a B-Me bond and 4 featuring a B-Au bond, respectively, demonstrating the nucleophilic properties of the tricoordinate boron center in 2.