Synthesis and utility of N-boryl and N-silyl enamines derived from the hydroboration and hydrosilylation of N-heteroarenes and N-conjugated compounds.

Catalytic hydroboration and hydrosilylation have emerged as promising strategies for the reduction of unsaturated hydrocarbons and carbonyl compounds, as well as for the dearomatization of N-heteroarenes. Various catalysts have been employed in these processes to achieve the formation of reduced products via distinct reaction pathways and intermediates. Among these intermediates, N-silyl enamines and N-boryl enamines, which are derived from hydrosilylation and hydroboration, are commonly underestimated in this reduction process. Because these versatile intermediates have recently been utilized in situ as nucleophilic reagents or dipolarophiles for the synthesis of diverse molecules, an expeditious review of the synthesis and utilization of N-silyl and N-boryl enamines is crucial. In this review, we comprehensively discuss a wide range of hydrosilylation and hydroboration catalysts used for the synthesis of N-silyl and N-boryl enamines. These catalysts include main-group metals (e.g., Mg and Zn), transition metals (e.g., Rh, Ru, and Ir), earth-abundant metals (e.g., Fe, Co, and Ni), and non-metal catalysts (including P, B, and organocatalysts). Furthermore, we highlight recent research efforts that have leveraged these versatile intermediates for the synthesis of intriguing molecules, offering insights into future directions for these invaluable building blocks.

(3 + 2) Cycloaddition Reaction of the Endocyclic N-Silyl Enamine and N,N'-Cyclic Azomethine Imine.

We describe the (3 + 2) cycloaddition reaction of endocyclic N-silyl enamines and N,N'-cyclic azomethine imines. This process utilized the versatile endocyclic N-silyl enamine intermediates from the dearomative hydrosilylation of N-heteroarenes. The resulting tetracyclic pyrazolidinone structure was synthesized by a straightforward and atom-economical process. We also discussed the plausible origins of the different reactivity and endo/exo selectivity in terms of the structures of each proposed transition state. The successful gram-scale synthesis demonstrated the synthetic utility.

Synthesis of Cyclic Amidines from Quinolines by a Borane-Catalyzed Dearomatization Strategy.

Described herein is the development of a new synthetic route to cyclic amidines from quinolines. The borane-catalyzed 1,4-hydrosilylation of quinoline was utilized for the dearomatization of the quinolines. The dearomatized enamine intermediate was subsequently reacted with a broad range of organic azides to produce the corresponding cyclic amidines (3,4-dihydroquinolinimines) via a [3 + 2] cycloaddition pathway. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggested that the hydride shift was involved during the cycloaddition.