Benzyl radical addition reaction through the homolytic cleavage of a benzylic C-H bond.

Direct generation of a benzyl radical by C-H bond activation of toluenes and the addition reaction of the resulting radical to an electron deficient olefin were developed. The reaction of dimethyl fumarate with toluene in the presence of Et(3)B as a radical initiator at reflux afforded 2-benzylsuccinic acid dimethyl ester in good yield.

Aerobic hydroxylation of N-borylenamine: triethylborane-mediated hydroxyalkylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated oxime ether.

Intermolecular hydroxyalkylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated imines involving Et3B-mediated regioselective alkyl radical addition and subsequent hydroxylation with molecular oxygen has been developed, in which N-borylenamine generated by trapping of the enaminyl radical with Et3B was a key intermediate in the proposed aerobic hydroxylation mechanism.