Borylation Reactions Research Articles

Cobalt-Catalyzed Borylation of Fluorinated Arenes: Thermodynamic Control of C(sp2)-H Oxidative Addition Results in ortho-to-Fluorine Selectivity.

The mechanism of C(sp2)-H borylation of fluorinated arenes with B2Pin2 (Pin = pinacolato) catalyzed by bis(phosphino)pyridine (iPrPNP) cobalt complexes was studied to understand the origins of the uniquely high ortho-to-fluorine regioselectivity observed in these reactions. Variable time normalization analysis (VTNA) of reaction time courses and deuterium kinetic isotope effect measurements established a kinetic regime wherein C(sp2)-H oxidative addition is fast and reversible. Monitoring the reaction by in situ NMR spectroscopy revealed the intermediacy of a cobalt(I)-aryl complex that was generated with the same high ortho-to-fluorine regioselectivity associated with the overall catalytic transformation. Deuterium labeling experiments and stoichiometric studies established C(sp2)-H oxidative addition of the fluorinated arene as the selectivity-determining step of the reaction. This step favors the formation of ortho-fluoroaryl cobalt intermediates due to the ortho fluorine effect, a phenomenon whereby ortho fluorine substituents stabilize transition metal-carbon bonds. Computational studies provided evidence that the cobalt-carbon bonds of the relevant intermediates in (iPrPNP)Co-catalyzed borylation are strengthened with increasing ortho fluorine substitution. The atypical kinetic regime involving fast and reversible C(sp2)-H oxidative addition in combination with the thermodynamic preference for forming cobalt-aryl bonds adjacent to fluorinated sites are the origin of the high regioselectivity in the catalytic borylation reaction.

Methane functionalization by an Ir(III) catalyst supported on a metal–organic framework: an alternative explanation of steric confinement effects

A highly selective Ir catalyst supported on the metal–organic framework (MOF) UiO-67 for the catalytic borylation of methane has recently been synthesized. The high chemoselectivity of the catalyst toward monoborylated methane (CH3Bpin, Bpin = pinacolborane) instead of diborylated methane (CH2Bpin2) was speculated to be caused by the steric confinement of MOF UiO-67. In this study, we applied quantum mechanical methods to determine: (1) the steric effect of the UiO-67 framework in promoting the chemoselectivity of the Ir catalyst toward CH3Bpin and (2) the borylation mechanisms over the Ir catalyst supported on UiO-67. Our results show that UiO-67 framework sterically obstructs the diffusion of the larger CH2Bpin2 molecule within the MOF while allowing the smaller CH3Bpin molecule to pass through with little energy penalty. The diffusion of CH2Bpin2 from the tetrahedral pore to the tetragonal pyramidal pore within modified UiO-67 with coordinated Ir(Bpin)3 complex has an estimated barrier of 24.7 kcal/mol and is 14.2 kcal/mol higher than the diffusion of CH3Bpin. The electronic and steric effects of the support at the Ir catalytic center are much smaller than this confinement effect on diffusion, and the catalytic center behaves similarly to the homogeneous Ir catalyst. We determined an overall free energy of activation of 34.6 kcal/mol for the CH4 borylation reaction using the Ir(III) catalyst. We also determined that the turnover-determining step for the catalytic methane borylation is the isomerization of seven-coordinated Ir(V) complex instead of the commonly assumed C–H bond activation by oxidative addition.

Isodesmic C-H Borylation: Perspectives and Proof of Concept of Transfer Borylation Catalysis.

The potential advantages of using arylboronic esters as boron sources in C-H borylation are discussed. The concept is showcased using commercially available 2-mercaptopyridine as a metal-free catalyst for the transfer borylation of heteroarenes using arylboronates as borylation agents. The catalysis shows a unique functional group tolerance among C-H borylation reactions, tolerating notably terminal alkene and alkyne functional groups. The mechanistic investigation is also described.

Transition-Metal-Free Borylation of Alkyl Iodides via a Radical Mechanism.

We describe an operationally simple transition-metal-free borylation of alkyl iodides. This method uses commercially available diboron reagents as the boron source and exhibits excellent functional group compatibility. Furthermore, a diverse range of primary and secondary alkyl iodides could be effectively transformed to the corresponding alkylboronates in excellent yield. Mechanistic investigations suggest that this borylation reaction proceeds through a single-electron transfer mechanism featuring the generation of an alkyl radical intermediate.

Quadruple Borylation of Terminal Alkynes.

We present the first quadruple borylation reaction of terminal alkynes, affording functionalized 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(boronate) derivatives in a chemo-/regioselective manner. The methodology is operationally simple and a novel B-B bond activation without the need for a transition-metal catalyst.

Meta-Nitration of Arenes Bearing ortho/para Directing Group(s) Using C-H Borylation.

Herein, we report the meta-nitration of arenes bearing ortho/para directing group(s) using the iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation reaction followed by a newly developed copper(II)-catalyzed transformation of the crude aryl pinacol boronate esters into the corresponding nitroarenes in a one-pot fashion. This protocol allows the synthesis of meta-nitrated arenes that are tedious to prepare or require multistep synthesis using the existing methods. The reaction tolerates a wide array of ortho/para-directing groups, such as -F, -Cl, -Br, -CH3 , -Et, -iPr -OCH3 , and -OCF3 . It also provides regioselective access to the nitro derivatives of π-electron-deficient heterocycles, such as pyridine and quinoline derivatives. The application of this method is demonstrated in the late-stage modification of complex molecules and also in the gram-scale preparation of an intermediate en route to the FDA-approved drug Nilotinib. Finally, we have shown that the nitro product obtained by this strategy can also be directly converted to the aniline or hindered amine through Baran's amination protocol.

Low-Coordinate NHC–Zinc Hydride Complexes Catalyze Alkyne C–H Borylation and Hydroboration Using Pinacolborane

Organozinc compounds containing sp, sp2, and sp3 C–Zn moieties undergo transmetalation with pinacolborane (HBPin) to produce Zn–H species and organoboronate esters (RBPin). This Zn–C/H–B metathesis step is key to enabling zinc-catalyzed borylation reactions, and it is used in this work to develop both terminal alkyne C–H borylation and internal alkyne hydroboration. These two conversions can be combined in one pot to achieve the zinc-catalyzed conversion of terminal alkynes to 1,1-diborylated alkenes without isolation of the sensitive (to protodeboronation) alkynyl boronate ester intermediates. Mechanistic studies involving the isolation of intermediates, stoichiometric experiments, and DFT calculations all support mechanisms involving organozinc species that undergo metathesis with HBPin. Furthermore, zinc-catalyzed hydroboration can proceed via a hydrozincation step, which does not require any exogenous catalyst in contrast to all previously reported alkyne hydrozincations. Bulky N-heterocyclic carbenes...

Enabling Two-Electron Pathways with Iron and Cobalt: From Ligand Design to Catalytic Applications.

Homogeneous catalysis with Earth-abundant, first-row transition metals, including iron and cobalt, has gained considerable recent attention as a potentially cost-effective and sustainable alternative to more commonly and historically used precious metals. Because fundamental organometallic transformations, such as oxidative addition and reductive elimination, are two-electron processes and essential steps in many important catalytic cycles, controlling redox chemistry-in particular overcoming one-electron chemistry-has been as a central challenge with Earth-abundant metals. This Perspective focuses on approaches to impart sufficiently strong ligand fields to generate electron-rich metal complexes able to promote oxidative addition reactions where the redox changes are exclusively metal-based. Emphasis is placed on how ligand design and exploration of fundamental organometallic chemistry coupled with mechanistic understanding have been used to discover iron catalysts for the hydrogen isotope exchange in pharmaceuticals and cobalt catalysts for C(sp2)-H borylation reactions. A pervasive theme is that first-row metal complexes often promote unique chemistry from their precious-metal counterparts, demonstrating that these elements offer a host of new opportunities for reaction discovery and for more sustainable catalysis.

Rhodium-Mediated Dehydrogenative Borylation–Hydroborylation of Bis(alkyl)alkynes: Intermediates and Mechanism

Complex Rh(Bpin){κ3-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr2)2]} (Bpin = pinacolboryl; xant(PiPr2)2 = 9,9-dimethyl-4,5-bis(diisopropylphosphino)xanthene) catalyzes the addition of B2pin2 to 3-hexyne and 4-octyne to give equimolecular mixtures of conjugated boryldienes and borylolefins, as a result of the addition of the B–B bond of the diborane to different molecules of alkynes and hydride transfer from one to the other. Both the dehydrogenative borylation and hydroborylation reactions form a catalytic cycle that has been deduced on the basis of stoichiometric studies. Complex Rh(Bpin){κ3-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr2)2]} promotes the dehydrogenative borylation of alkynes by means of reactions of insertion of the alkyne into the Rh–B bond, Z–E isomerization of the β-borylalkenyl ligand of the resulting Rh–alkenyl species, and Cγ–H bond activation of the alkyl substituent attached to the alkenyl Cα atom. As a consequence of the formation of boryldienes, the monohydride RhH{κ3-P,O,P-[xant(PiPr2)2]} is generated. The latter in a sequential ma...

Unsymmetrical Diboron Reagents: Application in Borylation Reactions of Unsaturated Bonds.

In the past decades, borylation reactions have received extensive research interest and have developed into effective tools in the synthesis of versatile organoboron compounds. Boranes and symmetrical diboron compounds are commonly utilized as borylating reagents in these transformations, especially in the borylation reactions of unsaturated bonds. More recently, several types of unsymmetrical diboron reagents have been synthesized and applied in these borylation reactions, allowing for complementary chemo- and regioselectivity. This review aimed to highlight the recent development in this rising research field, focusing on new reactivity and selectivity that originates from the use of these unsymmetrical diboron reagents.

Back Cover: Electrochemical Radical Borylation of Aryl Iodides (Chin. J. Chem. 4/2019)

The back cover picture shows an electrochemical strategy for the borylation of aryl iodides via a radical pathway using current as a driving force. This method features mild reaction conditions, good functional groups tolerance, and prompt reaction time. EPR, CV and DPV experiments verified the formation of aryl radicals in this electrochemical borylation reaction, and the current plays an important role in the generation of radical intermediate. More details are discussed in the article by Mo et al. on page 347–351. image

Iridium(I)-Catalyzed C-H Borylation in Air by Using Mechanochemistry.

Mechanochemistry has been applied for the first time to an iridium(I)-catalyzed C-H borylation reaction. By using either none or just a catalytic amount of a liquid, the mechanochemical C-H borylation of a series of heteroaromatic compounds proceeded in air to afford the corresponding arylboronates in good-to-excellent yields. A one-pot mechanochemical C-H borylation/Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling sequence for the direct synthesis of 2-aryl indole derivatives is also described. The present study constitutes an important milestone towards the development of industrially attractive solvent-free C-H bond functionalization processes in air.

Cover Feature: Iridium(I)‐Catalyzed C−H Borylation in Air by Using Mechanochemistry (Chem. Eur. J. 18/2019)

C−H borylation using mechanochemistry has been developed for the first time. Careful choice of the reaction milling jar, ball, and additive enabled the development of a solvent-free iridium-catalyzed C−H borylation reaction that proceeds efficiently in air. Considering the broad significance of C−H borylation processes and the industrial demand for sustainable synthetic methods, the present study constitutes an important milestone toward the development of industrially attractive C−H bond functionalization processes. More information can be found in the Communication by K. Kubota, H. Ito, et al. on page 4654.

Decarbonylative Borylation of Amides by Palladium Catalysis.

The development of transition-metal-catalyzed borylation reactions is of significant importance for the fields of organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry because of the versatility of organoboron functional groups. Herein, we report the direct decarbonylative borylation of amides by highly selective carbon–nitrogen bond cleavage by palladium catalysis. The approach capitalizes on the ground-state destabilization of the amide bond in N-acyl glutarimides to achieve Pd-catalyzed insertion into the amide N–C bond and decarbonylation (deamidation). Mechanistic studies and the utility of this methodology in orthogonal sequential cross-couplings of robust, bench-stable amides are reported.

Copper-Catalyzed Asymmetric Conjugate Additions of Bis(pinacolato)diboron and Dimethylzinc to Acyl- N-methylimidazole Michael Acceptors: A Highly Stereoselective Unified Strategy for 1,3,5,... n (OH, Me) Motif Synthesis.

A unified strategy for the construction of prevalent 1,3,5,... n (OH, Me) motifs based on consecutive copper-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate borylation (ACB) and methylation (ACA) reactions involving α,β-unsaturated 2-acyl- N-methylimidazoles is described. Good yields and high diastereoselectivities have been obtained in ACA and ACB reactions for both matched and mismatched pairs as illustrated in the synthesis of syn/ anti and anti/ anti (Me, OTBS, Me) and (OH, OTBS, Me) motifs.

Immobilization of Ir(I) complex on covalent triazine frameworks for C[sbnd]H borylation reactions: A combined experimental and computational study

Metal-modified covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) have attracted considerable attention in heterogeneous catalysis due to their strong nitrogen-metal interactions exhibiting superior activity, stability and hence recyclability. Herein, we report on a post-metalation of a bipyridine-based CTFs with an Ir(I) complex for CH borylation of aromatic compounds. Physical characterization of the Ir(I)-based bipyCTF catalyst in combination with density functional theory (DFT) calculations exhibit a high stabilization energy of the Ir-bipy moiety in the frameworks in the presence of B2Pin2. By using B2Pin2 as a boron source, Ir(I)@bipyCTF efficiently catalyzed the CH borylation of various aromatic compounds with excellent activity and good recyclability. In addition, XAS analysis of the Ir(I)@bipyCTF gave clear evidence for the coordination environment of the Ir.

Room temperature Pd(0)/Ad3P-catalyzed coupling reactions of aryl chlorides with bis(pinacolato)diboron

Room temperature Pd(0)/Ad3P-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions of aryl chlorides with bis(pinacolato)diboron are described. The Pd(0)/Ad3P catalyst, generated from Ad3P-coordinated acetanilide-based palladacycle complex, proved to be an efficient catalyst system for the Miyaura borylation reactions of a variety of aryl chlorides with bis(pinacolato)diboron. The mild reaction condition, the easy availability of the catalyst and good coupling yields make these reactions potentially useful in organic synthesis.

Palladium‐Catalyzed Three‐Component Coupling Reaction of Allyl Carboxylates, Norbornenes and Diboronates Involving Sequential Olefins Insertion and Borylation Reaction

Summary of main observation and conclusionAn efficient Pd‐catalyzed three‐component coupling reaction of allyl carboxylates, norbornenes and diboronates is described, which allows efficient assembly of C(sp3)—C(sp3) and C(sp3)—B bonds in a single process. Moreover, this approach shows advantages of good chemo‐ and regioselectivity, as well as good substrates suitability.

Isolable Silylene Ligands Can Boost Efficiencies and Selectivities in Metal-Mediated Catalysis.

A significant number of isolable silylenes are currently known. They have quickly developed from laboratory curiosities to useful ligands in metal-mediated homogeneous catalysis. This includes their utilization in various catalytic transformations, such as C-C cross-coupling, cyclotrimerization, hydroformylation, borylation, deuteration, hydrosilylation, amination, hydrogenation, and transfer semi-hydrogenation reactions. Recent studies suggest that the silylene ligands surpass the steering properties of their phosphine and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) analogues and provide excellent chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivites. Mechanistic studies suggest that their promoted performance of metal-mediated catalytic transformations results from a strong σ-donor character along with cooperative effects of their SiII centers. This Minireview covers the most recent advances in the field.

Synthesis, photophysical and electronic properties of tetra-donor- or acceptor-substituted ortho-perylenes displaying four reversible oxidations or reductions.

Via regioselective Ir-catalyzed C-H borylation and subsequent reactions (i.e., via Br4-Per or (BF3K)4-Per intermediates), we have introduced strong π-donors and acceptors at the 2,5,8,11-positions of perylene leading to unusual properties. Thus, incorporation of four donor diphenylamine (DPA) or four acceptor Bmes2 (mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H2) moieties yields novel compounds which can be reversibly oxidized or reduced four times, respectively, an unprecedented behavior for monomeric perylene derivatives. Spectroelectrochemical measurements show NIR absorptions up to 3000 nm for the mono-cation radical of (DPA)4-Per and a strong electronic coupling over the perylene bridge was observed indicative of fully delocalized Robin-Day Class III behavior. Both (DPA)4-Per and (Bmes2)4-Per derivatives possess unusually long intrinsic singlet lifetimes (τ 0), e.g., 94 ns for the former one. The compounds are emissive in solution, thin films, and the solid state, with apparent Stokes shifts that are exceptionally large for perylene derivatives. Transient absorption measurements on (DPA)4-Per reveal an additional excited state, with a long lifetime of 500 μs, which sensitizes singlet oxygen effectively.