Potassium Trifluoroborate Salts Research Articles

Electrochemical Generation of Aryl Radicals from Organoboron Reagents Enabled by Pulsed Electrosynthesis

AbstractAryl radicals play a pivotal role as reactive intermediates in chemical synthesis, commonly arising from aryl halides and aryl diazo compounds. Expanding the repertoire of sources for aryl radical generation to include abundant and stable organoboron reagents would significantly advance radical chemistry and broaden their reactivity profile. While traditional approaches utilize stoichiometric oxidants or photocatalysis to generate aryl radicals from these reagents, electrochemical conditions have been largely underexplored. Through rigorous mechanistic investigations, we identified fundamental challenges hindering aryl radical generation. In addition to the high oxidation potentials of aromatic organoboron compounds, electrode passivation through radical grafting, homocoupling of aryl radicals, and decomposition issues were identified. We demonstrate that pulsed electrosynthesis enables selective and efficient aryl radical generation by mitigating the fundamental challenges. Our discoveries facilitated the development of the first electrochemical conversion of aryl potassium trifluoroborate salts into aryl C−P bonds. This sustainable and straightforward oxidative electrochemical approach exhibited a broad substrate scope, accommodating various heterocycles and aryl chlorides, typical substrates in transition‐metal catalyzed cross‐coupling reactions. Furthermore, we extended this methodology to form aryl C−Se, C−Te, and C−S bonds, showcasing its versatility and potential in bond formation processes.

Electrochemical Generation of Aryl Radicals from Organoboron Reagents Enabled by Pulsed Electrosynthesis.

Aryl radicals play a pivotal role as reactive intermediates in chemical synthesis, commonly arising from aryl halides and aryl diazo compounds. Expanding the repertoire of sources for aryl radical generation to include abundant and stable organoboron reagents would significantly advance radical chemistry and broaden their reactivity profile. While traditional approaches utilize stoichiometric oxidants or photocatalysis to generate aryl radicals from these reagents, electrochemical conditions have been largely underexplored. Through rigorous mechanistic investigations, we identified fundamental challenges hindering aryl radical generation. In addition to the high oxidation potentials of aromatic organoboron compounds, electrode passivation through radical grafting, homocoupling of aryl radicals, and decomposition issues were identified. We demonstrate that pulsed electrosynthesis enables selective and efficient aryl radical generation by mitigating the fundamental challenges. Our discoveries facilitated the development of the first electrochemical conversion of aryl potassium trifluoroborate salts into aryl C-P bonds. This sustainable and straightforward oxidative electrochemical approach exhibited a broad substrate scope, accommodating various heterocycles and aryl chlorides, typical substrates in transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions. Furthermore, we extended this methodology to form aryl C-Se, C-Te, and C-S bonds, showcasing its versatility and potential in bond formation processes.

Photoredox-Catalyzed Radical-Radical Coupling of Potassium Trifluoroborates with Acyl Azoliums.

Potassium trifluoroborates have gained significant utility as coupling partners in organic synthesis, particularly in the Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction. Recently, they have also been used as radical precursors under oxidative conditions to generate carbon-centered radicals. These versatile reagents have found new applications in photoredox catalysis, including radical substitution, conjugate addition reactions, and transition metal dual catalysis. In addition, this photomediated redox neutral process has enabled radical-radical coupling with persistent radicals in the absence of a metal, and this process remains to be fully explored. In this study, we report the radical-radical coupling of benzylic potassium trifluoroborate salts with isolated acyl azolium triflates, which are persistent radical precursors. The reaction is catalyzed by an organic photocatalyst and forms isolable tertiary alcohol species. These compounds can be transformed into a range of substituted ketone products by simple treatment with a mild base.

Convergent Deboronative and Decarboxylative Phosphonylation Enabled by the Phosphite Radical Trap "BecaP".

Carbon-phosphorus bond formation is significant in synthetic chemistry because phosphorus-containing compounds offer numerous indispensable biochemical roles. While there is a plethora of methods to access organophosphorus compounds, phosphonylations of readily accessible alkyl radicals to form aliphatic phosphonates are rare and not commonly used in synthesis. Herein, we introduce a novel phosphorus radical trap "BecaP" that enables facile and efficient phosphonylation of alkyl radicals under visible light photocatalytic conditions. Importantly, the ambiphilic nature of BecaP allows redox neutral reactions with both nucleophilic (activated by single-electron oxidation) and electrophilic (activated by single-electron reduction) alkyl radical precursors. Thus, a broad scope of feedstock alkyl potassium trifluoroborate salts and redox active carboxylate esters could be employed, with each class of substrate proceeding through a distinct mechanistic pathway. The mild conditions are applicable to the late-stage installation of phosphonate motifs into medicinal agents and natural products, which is showcased by the straightforward conversion of baclofen (muscle relaxant) to phaclofen (GABAB antagonist).

Regio‐ and Stereoselective Synthesis of Enynyl Boronates via Ruthenium‐Catalyzed Hydroboration of 1,4‐Diaryl‐Substituted 1,3‐Diynes

AbstractA facile ruthenium‐catalyzed regio‐ and stereoselective hydroboration of symmetrical, aromatic 1,3‐diynes with pinacolborane towards 2‐boryl‐1,4‐diaryl‐buta‐1‐en‐3‐ynes and their further transformation into potassium trifluoroborate salts is presented. The reaction proceeded efficiently for 1,4‐diphenylbutadiynes with various substituents on the phenyl rings and heterocyclic 1,4‐di(thiophen‐3‐yl)buta‐1,3‐diyne. The resulting products were isolated and fully characterized (1H, 13C, 11B and 1D NOESY NMR, IR, GC‐MS, HRMS or elemental analysis). Moreover, the crystal structure of an enynyl boronate was determined, proving the addition of boryl moiety at the internal carbon in the diyne, according to the anti‐Markovnikov rule. The results presented here are the first examples of selective catalytic monohydroboration of conjugated diynes. The products obtained due to the presence of the boryl group and the unsaturated bonds are potential synthons in the synthesis of natural compounds or active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). The model Suzuki coupling of 2‐boryl‐1,4‐diphenyl‐buta‐1‐en‐3‐ynes with iodobenzene was carried out to illustrate the utility of the resulting compounds.magnified image

Enantioselective synthesis of α-amino esters through Petasis borono-Mannich multicomponent reaction of potassium trifluoroborate salts

Enantioselective synthesis of α-amino esters have been achieved through the Petasis borono-Mannich multicomponent reaction using ( R)-BINOL-derived catalysts with stable heteroaryl and alkenyl trifluoroborate salts under mild conditions. The reaction provides direct access to optically active α-amino esters with moderate to good yields and enantioselectivities.

Iron (III)‐Promoted Synthesis of Substituted 4H‐Chalcogenochromenes and Chemoselective Functionalization

AbstractThe iron(III)‐promoted synthesis of densely‐substituted 4H‐chalcogenchromene from organochalcogen propargylamines in the presence of diaryl dichalcogenides is reported. Subsequent C2‐functionalization with electrophiles and potassium trifluoroborate salts via Suzuki‐Miyaura coupling reaction are also presented. A plausible mechanism based on HRMS experiments is proposed and discussed.magnified image

Selective C−N Borylation of Alkyl Amines Promoted by Lewis Base

AbstractAn efficient method for the metal‐free deaminative borylation of alkylamines, using bis(catecholato)diboron as the boron source, to directly synthesize various alkyl potassium trifluoroborate salts is introduced. The key to this high reactivity is the utilization of pyridinium salt activated alkylamines, with a catalytic amount of a bipyridine‐type Lewis base as a promoter. This transformation shows good functional‐group compatibility (e.g., it is unimpeded by the presence of a ketone, indole, internal alkene, or unactivated alkyl chloride) and can serve as a powerful synthetic tool for borylation of amine groups in complex compounds. Mechanistic experiments and computations suggest a mechanism in which the Lewis base activated B2cat2 unit intercepts an alkyl radical generated by single‐electron transfer (SET) from a boron‐based reductant.

Selective C-N Borylation of Alkyl Amines Promoted by Lewis Base.

An efficient method for the metal-free deaminative borylation of alkylamines, using bis(catecholato)diboron as the boron source, to directly synthesize various alkyl potassium trifluoroborate salts is introduced. The key to this high reactivity is the utilization of pyridinium salt activated alkylamines, with a catalytic amount of a bipyridine-type Lewis base as a promoter. This transformation shows good functional-group compatibility (e.g., it is unimpeded by the presence of a ketone, indole, internal alkene, or unactivated alkyl chloride) and can serve as a powerful synthetic tool for borylation of amine groups in complex compounds. Mechanistic experiments and computations suggest a mechanism in which the Lewis base activated B2 cat2 unit intercepts an alkyl radical generated by single-electron transfer (SET) from a boron-based reductant.

Exploiting Photochemical Processes in Multi‐Step Continuous Flow: Derivatization of the Natural Product Clausine C

AbstractThe synthesis and derivatization of carbazoles based upon the natural product clausine C has been accomplished using two different two‐step continuous processes. The resulting carbazoles (9 examples, 33–74 % yield) were prepared by means of a continuous flow set‐up integrating a UV‐mediated transformation employing a purple LED reactor (λ=394 nm) as the first step in the multi‐step sequence. The second derivatization step involved cross‐coupling through Pd‐catalyzed Suzuki cross‐coupling or Ni‐catalyzed metallophotoredox cross‐coupling with potassium trifluoroborate salts. The latter represents the first example of using sequential photochemical reactors, at different wavelengths, in a continuous flow process.

Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective Monodefluoroborylation of Polyfluoroalkenes en Route to Diverse Fluoroalkenes.

Monodefluoroborylation of polyfluoroalkenes has been achieved in a regioselective manner under mild conditions via copper catalysis. The method has shown an extremely broad scope of substrates, including (difluorovinyl)arenes, tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), (trifluorovinyl)arenes, and trifluoromethylated monofluoroalkenes. The choice of boron source was important for the efficient transformation of (difluorovinyl)arenes; (Bpin)2 was suitable for substrates with an electron-deficient aryl group and (Bnep)2 for those with an electron-rich aryl group. Derivatization of the (fluoroalkenyl)boronic acid esters to the corresponding potassium trifluoroborate salts has rendered the products easily isolable, which greatly improved the synthetic practicality of the monodefluoroborylation reaction. Stoichiometric experiments indicate that the fate of the regioselectivity depends on the mode of β-fluorine elimination, which depends on the substrate. Further transformation of the boryl group has allowed facile preparation of fluoroalkene derivatives as exemplified by the synthesis of a fluoroalkene mimic of atorvastatin, which potently inhibited the enzyme activity of HMG-CoA reductase.

Visible Light Activation of Boronic Esters Enables Efficient Photoredox C(sp2)–C(sp3) Cross‐Couplings in Flow

AbstractWe report herein a new method for the photoredox activation of boronic esters. Using these reagents, an efficient and high‐throughput continuous flow process was developed to perform a dual iridium‐ and nickel‐catalyzed C(sp2)–C(sp3) coupling by circumventing solubility issues associated with potassium trifluoroborate salts. Formation of an adduct with a pyridine‐derived Lewis base was found to be essential for the photoredox activation of the boronic esters. Based on these results we were able to develop a further simplified visible light mediated C(sp2)–C(sp3) coupling method using boronic esters and cyano heteroarenes under flow conditions.

Visible Light Activation of Boronic Esters Enables Efficient Photoredox C(sp2 )-C(sp3 ) Cross-Couplings in Flow.

We report herein a new method for the photoredox activation of boronic esters. Using these reagents, an efficient and high‐throughput continuous flow process was developed to perform a dual iridium‐ and nickel‐catalyzed C(sp2)–C(sp3) coupling by circumventing solubility issues associated with potassium trifluoroborate salts. Formation of an adduct with a pyridine‐derived Lewis base was found to be essential for the photoredox activation of the boronic esters. Based on these results we were able to develop a further simplified visible light mediated C(sp2)–C(sp3) coupling method using boronic esters and cyano heteroarenes under flow conditions.

Carbonylation of Difluoroalkyl Bromides Catalyzed by Palladium

AbstractAlthough important progress has been made in the fluoroalkylation reactions, the transition‐metal‐catalyzed carbonylative fluoroalkylation reaction remains challenging so far. Herein, we report the first example of a Pd‐catalyzed carbonylation of difluoroalkyl bromides with (hetero)arylboronic acids under one atmosphere pressure of CO. The reaction can also be extended to the aryl potassium trifluoroborate salts. The advantages of this protocol are synthetic simplicity, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group compatibility. The resulting difluoroalkyl ketones can serve as versatile building blocks for the synthesis of various useful fluorinated compounds.

Carbonylation of Difluoroalkyl Bromides Catalyzed by Palladium.

Although important progress has been made in the fluoroalkylation reactions, the transition-metal-catalyzed carbonylative fluoroalkylation reaction remains challenging so far. Herein, we report the first example of a Pd-catalyzed carbonylation of difluoroalkyl bromides with (hetero)arylboronic acids under one atmosphere pressure of CO. The reaction can also be extended to the aryl potassium trifluoroborate salts. The advantages of this protocol are synthetic simplicity, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group compatibility. The resulting difluoroalkyl ketones can serve as versatile building blocks for the synthesis of various useful fluorinated compounds.

Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Direct Substitution of 2-Ethoxytetrahydrofuran with Trifluoroborate Salts

Metal-free transformations of organotrifluoroborates are advantageous since they avoid the use of frequently expensive and sensitive transition metals. Lewis acid-catalyzed reactions involving potassium trifluoroborate salts have emerged as an alternative to metal-catalyzed protocols. However, the drawbacks to these methods are that they rely on the generation of unstable boron dihalide species, thereby resulting in low functional group tolerance. Recently, we discovered that in the presence of a Brønsted acid, trifluoroborate salts react rapidly with in situ generated oxocarbenium ions. Here, we report Brønsted acid-catalyzed direct substitution of 2-ethoxytetrahydrofuran using potassium trifluoroborate salts. The reaction occurs when tetrafluoroboric acid is used as a catalyst to afford functionalized furans in moderate to excellent yields. A variety of alkenyl- and alkynyltrifluoroborate salts readily participate in this transformation.

Regioselective borylation of the C-H bonds in alkylamines and alkyl ethers. Observation and origin of high reactivity of primary C-H bonds beta to nitrogen and oxygen.

Borylation of aliphatic C-H bonds in alkylamines and alkyl ethers to form primary aminoalkyl and alkoxyalkyl boronate esters and studies on the origin of the regioselectivity of these reactions are reported. The products of these reactions can be used directly in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions or isolated as air-stable potassium trifluoroborate salts. Selective borylation of the terminal C-H bond at the positions β to oxygen and nitrogen occurs in preference to borylation of the other terminal C-H bonds. Experimental studies and computational results show that C-H bond cleavage is the rate-determining step of the current borylation reactions. The observed higher reactivity of C-H bonds at the terminal position of ethylamines and ethers results from a combination of attractive Lewis acid-base and hydrogen-bonding interactions, as well as typical repulsive steric interactions, in the transition state. In this transition state, the heteroatom lies directly above the boron atom of one boryl ligand, creating a stabilizing interaction between the weak Lewis acid and Lewis base, and a series of C-H bonds of the substrate lie near the oxygen atoms of the boryl ligands, participating in a set of weak C-H···O interactions that lead to significant stabilization of the transition state forming the major product.

Synthesis of trifluoroborate functionalised imidazolium salts as precursors to weakly coordinating bidentate NHC ligands

A new class of trifluoroborate functionalised N-heterocyclic carbene precursors have been synthesised, isolated and characterised structurally. The ligands were obtained via a serendipitous one-pot reaction in which deprotection, cyclisation and fluorination of boryl-functionalised diarylethylenediamine derivatives occur concurrently. Deprotonation of the imidazolium salts was found to yield the free carbene, though 18-crown-6 was found necessary to prevent further reactivity of the resulting aryl potassium trifluoroborate salts; in the absence of 18-crown-6, elimination of KF resulted in a cyclic carbene–BF 2 arene adduct. Complexation to rhodium was facile, and yielded four-coordinate complexes in which the Rh–BF 3 interaction was determined by 19F NMR spectroscopy to be weak.

ChemInform Abstract: Potassium Trifluoroborate Salts as Convenient, Stable Reagents for Difficult Alkyl Transfers

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform Abstract: Complete Stereoretention in the Rhodium‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Addition of Chiral Secondary and Tertiary Alkyl Potassium Trifluoroborate Salts to Aldehydes.

AbstractChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.