Issue 5, 2016

Highly selective catalytic trans-hydroboration of alkynes mediated by borenium cations and B(C6F5)3

Abstract

The trans-hydroboration of terminal alkynes mediated by borenium cations [NHC(9-BBN)]+ (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene, 9-BBN = 9-borabicyclo(3.3.1)nonane) exclusively affords Z-vinylboranes. NHCs and chelating dialkyl substituents on the borenium cation and “non”-basic anions were essential to preclude alternative reactions including dehydroboration. Deuterium labelling studies indicate the mechanism involves addition of the boron electrophile to the alkyne and transfer of hydride to the opposite face of the activated alkyne. trans-Hydroboration proceeds with only catalytic amounts of B(C6F5)3 or [Ph3C][B(C6F5)4] to activate the (NHC)9-BBN(H) precursor with the borenium regenerated in the hydride transfer step. The NHC can be removed from the trans-hydroborated products by the addition of Et2O–BF3 providing access to vinylBBN species effective for Suzuki–Miyaura couplings to generate Z-alkenes. Combinations of catalytic B(C6F5)3 and stoichiometric [HB(C6F5)3] also lead to trans-hydroboration of terminal alkynes to form Z-isomers of [arylCH[double bond, length as m-dash]CHB(C6F5)3].

Graphical abstract: Highly selective catalytic trans-hydroboration of alkynes mediated by borenium cations and B(C6F5)3

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
11 Dec 2015
Accepted
12 Feb 2016
First published
12 Feb 2016
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2016,7, 3384-3389

Author version available

Highly selective catalytic trans-hydroboration of alkynes mediated by borenium cations and B(C6F5)3

J. S. McGough, S. M. Butler, I. A. Cade and M. J. Ingleson, Chem. Sci., 2016, 7, 3384 DOI: 10.1039/C5SC04798F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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