Facile Borylation of Alkenes, Alkynes, Imines, Arenes and Heteroarenes with N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Boranes and a Heterogeneous Semiconductor Photocatalyst.

Although the development of radical chain and photocatalytic borylation reactions using N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-borane as boron source is remarkable, the persistent problems, including the use of hazardous and high-energy radical initiators or the recyclability and photostability issues of soluble homogeneous photocatalysts, still leave great room for further development in a sustainable manner. Herein, we report a conceptually different approach toward highly functionalized organoborane synthesis by using recoverable ultrathin cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanosheets as a heterogeneous photocatalyst, and a general and mild borylation platform that enables regioselective borylation of a wide variety of alkenes (arylethenes, trifluoromethylalkenes, α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and nitriles), alkynes, imines and electron-poor aromatic rings with NHC-borane as boryl radical precursor. Mechanistic studies and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that both photogenerated electrons and holes on the CdS fully perform their own roles, thereby resulting in enhancement of photocatalytic activity and stability of CdS.

1,4-Hydroboration Reactions of Electron-Poor Aromatic Rings by N-Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes.

Reactions of N-heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC-boranes) with electron-poor aromatic rings under photoredox conditions provide dearomatized 3-NHC-boryl-1,5-cycohexadienes, which are formally products of 1,4-hydroboration reactions. When regioisomers are possible, the more crowded (doubly ortho-substituted) product is formed preferably or exclusively. The mechanism may involve oxidation of the NHC-borane to an NHC-boryl radical, reduction of the electron-poor aromatic ring to a radical anion, coupling of the radical and the radical anion to give a cyclohexadienyl anion, and finally regioselective protonation.

EPR Studies on the Addition of Ligated Boryl Radicals to Carbonyl Compounds.

The boron-centered radicals derived from alkenyl N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-boranes bearing ester substituents were recently found to ring close in 5-endo mode by addition to the oxygen atoms of the ester substituents. The inference from this was that NHC-boryl radicals might add intermolecularly to carbonyl-containing substrates. Several different NHC-boryl radicals were generated by H-atom abstraction from NHC-ligated trihydroborates. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy proved that these did indeed add to the oxygen atoms of diaryl ketones with production of the corresponding bora-ketyl radicals. The same unusual regioselectivity of addition was observed with monoaryl ketones, but no bora-ketyls were observed with dialkyl ketones. Similarly, no bora-ketyl adduct radicals were observed with esters, even esters of benzoic acid. EPR spectroscopic evidence suggested that NHC-boryl radicals were also added to the O-atoms of aromatic aldehydes. Amine-boryl and phosphine-boryl radicals were also observed to add to the O-atom of benzophenone with production of the corresponding ketyl radicals.

The Thermal Rearrangement of an NHC-Ligated 3-Benzoborepin to an NHC-Boranorcaradiene.

An N-heterocyclic-carbene-ligated 3-benzoborepin with a bridged structure has been synthesized by double radical trans-hydroboration of benzo[3,4]cycloundec-3-ene-1,5-diyne with an N-heterocyclic carbene borane. The thermal reaction of the NHC-ligated borepin at 150 °C gives an isolable NHC-boranorcaradiene. Experiments and density functional theory calculations support a mechanism whereby the borepin initially rearranges to a boranorcaradiene by a thermal 6π-electrocyclic reaction. This is followed by 1,5-boron shift to give a rearranged boranorcaradiene. This shift occurs with stereoinversion at boron through a transition state with open-shell diradical character. This is the first example of the isolation of a boranorcaradiene from a thermal reaction of a borepin.

Facile Synthesis of α-N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Boryl Ketones from N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Boranes and Alkenyl Triflates.

Reactions of readily available alkenyl triflates with N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-boranes in the presence of diisopropyl ethyl amine provided about three dozen stable α-NHC-boryl ketones. Isolated yields were typically 40-56% for B-unsubstituted NHC-boranes (NHC-BH3), and somewhat lower for NHC-boranes with B-substituents (NHC-BH2R). The requisite alkenyl triflates can be made separately or prepared in situ from either ketones or alkynes. The experimental evidence supports a radical chain mechanism that involves the following: (1) addition of an NHC-boryl radical to the alkenyl triflate, (2) fragmentation to give the α-NHC-boryl ketone, SO2, and trifluoromethyl radical, and (3) hydrogen abstraction by trifluoromethyl radical from the starting NHC-borane to return the NHC-boryl radical along with trifluoromethane. Reactions 1 and 3 are both new and evidently rather fast.

Ring-Opening Reactions of NHC-Boriranes with In Situ Generated HCl: Synthesis of a New Class of NHC-Boralactones.

The first ring-opening reactions of ligated boriranes (boracyclopropanes) are described. Treatment of readily available NHC-boriranes bearing ester substituents on the borirane ring with HCl provides stable γ-NHC-bora-γ-lactones in isolated yields ranging from 40% to 73%. The reactions occur through 1,3-addition of HCl across a B-C bond of the NHC-borirane to form a ring-opened NHC-boryl chloride, followed by lactonization with chloride displacement. Experimental evidence suggests that both the borirane ring-opening reaction and the boralactonization reaction occur with inversion at boron.

EPR and Preparative Studies of 5- endo Cyclizations of Radicals Derived from Alkenyl NHC-Boranes Bearing tert-Butyl Ester Substituents.

Radical H atom abstraction from a set of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of alkenylboranes bearing two tert-butyl ester substituents was studied by EPR spectroscopy. The initial boraallyl radical intermediates rapidly ring closed onto the O atoms of their distal ester groups in 5- endo mode to yield 1,2-oxaborole radicals. Unexpectedly, two structural varieties of these radicals were identified from their EPR spectra. These proved to be two stable rotamers, in which the carbonyl group of the tert-butyl ester was oriented toward and away from the NHC ring. These rotamers were akin to the s- trans and s- cis rotamers of α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. Their stability was attributed to the quasi-allylic interaction of their unpaired electrons with the carbonyl units of their adjacent ester groups. EPR spectroscopic evidence for two rotamers of the analogous methyl ester containing NHC-oxaborole radicals was also obtained. An improved synthetic procedure for preparing rare NHC-boralactones was developed involving treatment of the alkenyl NHC-boranes with AIBN and tert-dodecanethiol.

Esters as Radical Acceptors: ß-NHC-Borylalkenyl Radicals Induce Lactonization by C-C Bond Formation/Cleavage on Esters.

Substituted propargyl acetates are converted into 4-boryl-2(5H)-furanones upon thermolysis in the presence of an N-heterocyclic carbene borane (NHC-borane) and di-tert-butyl peroxide. The acetyl methyl group is lost during the reaction as methane. Evidence suggests that the reaction proceeds by a sequence of radical events including: 1) addition of an NHC-boryl radical to the triple bond; 2) cyclization of the resultant ß-borylalkenyl radical to the ester carbonyl group; 3) ß-scission of the so-formed alkoxy radical to provide the 4-boryl-2(5H)-furanone and a methyl radical; and 4) hydrogen abstraction from the NHC-borane to return the initial NHC-boryl radical and methane.

5- Endo Cyclizations of NHC-Boraallyl Radicals Bearing Ester Substituents: Characterization of Derived 1,2-Oxaborole Radicals and Boralactones.

EPR studies of radical hydrogen abstraction reactions of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of alkenylboranes bearing two ester substituents revealed not the expected boraallyl radicals but instead isomeric 1,2-oaxborole radicals. Such radicals are new, and DFT calculations show that they arise from the initially formed boraallyl radicals by a rapid, exothermic 5- endo cyclization. These spectroscopic and computational discoveries prompted a series of preparative experiments that provided access to a novel family of robust NHC-boralactones. A one-pot procedure was developed to access the boralactones directly from an NHC-borane (NHC-BH3) and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate.

Synthesis, Structure, and Acidity Constants of Ligated α-Boryl Acetic Acids.

Basic hydrolyses of various ligated α-boryl acetic acid esters provided the first ligated derivatives of the unknown compound boroacetic acid (BH2 CH2 CO2 H). Four monoacids (L-BH2 CH2 CO2 H) and one diacid (L-BH(CH2 CO2 H)2 ) were prepared with N-heterocyclic carbene, amine, and pyridine ligands (L). The stable acids were characterized by X-ray crystallography and acidity constant (pKa ) measurements. They rank among the least acidic of all known carboxylic acids. In turn, their conjugate bases are among the strongest of all carboxylates.

Reactions of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes with 5-Diazo-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione: Synthesis of Mono- and Bis-hydrazonyl NHC-Boranes.

N-Heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC-boranes) react with 5-diazo-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione at 40 °C in dichloromethane to provide NHC-boryl hydrazone derivatives of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxane-4,6-dione. These hydrazones disproportionate to bis-hydrazones on treatment with diiodine in dichloromethane at room temperature. The mono- and bis-hydrazones are yellow solids that are stable to chromatography and storage.

Radical trans-Hydroboration of Alkynes with N-Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes.

Hydroboration of internal alkynes with N-heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC-boranes) occurs to provide stable NHC (E)-alkenylboranes upon thermolysis in the presence of di-tert-butyl peroxide. The E isomer results from an unusual trans-hydroboration, and the E/Z selectivity is typically high (90:10 or greater). Evidence suggests that this hydroboration occurs by a radical-chain reaction involving addition of an NHC-boryl radical to an alkyne to give a ß-NHC-borylalkenyl radical. Ensuing hydrogen abstraction from the starting NHC-borane provides the product and returns the starting NHC-boryl radical. Experiments suggest that the observed trans-selectivity results from kinetic control in the hydrogen-transfer reaction.

Difluorination at Boron Leads to the First Electrophilic Ligated Boryl Radical (NHC-BF2. ).

1,3-Dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene difluoroborane (NHC-BF2 H) was prepared in a one-pot, two-step reaction from the parent ligated borane (NHC-BH3 ). The derived difluoroboryl radical (NHC-BF2. ) was generated by laser flash photolysis experiments and characterized by UV spectroscopy and rate-constant measurements. It is transient and reacts quickly with O2 . Unusually, it also reacts more rapidly with ethyl vinyl ether than with methyl acrylate. By this measure, it is the first electrophilic ligated boryl radical. Both NHC-BH3 and NHC-BF2 H serve as co-initiators in bulk photopolymerizations, converting both electron-poor and electron-rich monomers at roughly similar rates. However, the difluorinated coinitiator provides polymers with dramatically increased chain lengths from both monomers.

Generation and Structure of Unique Boriranyl Radicals.

Three-member ring boracyclopropanes (boriranes) with N-heterocyclic carbene substituents were prepared by a recently discovered route. H atoms were selectively abstracted from the boron atoms by t-butoxyl radicals and this enabled boriranyl radicals to be detected and characterized by EPR spectroscopy for the first time. Their EPR parameters indicated they had planar π-character. From competition experiments, the rate constant for H atom abstraction was determined and found to be about 2 orders of magnitude less than for NHC-boranes. The B-H BDE of an NHC-borirane was estimated to be about 95 kcal mol-1.

Synthesis of Boriranes by Double Hydroboration Reactions of N-Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes and Dimethyl Acetylenedicarboxylate.

Reaction of bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)-imidazol-2-ylidene borane with dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate gives 80% yield of a stable borirane (boracyclopropane) formed by formal double hydroboration along with 5% of the (E)-alkenylborane. DFT calculations suggest a mechanism where divergence to the two products occurs after a common initial stage of hydride transfer from the NHC-borane to the acetylenedicarboxylate.

Borylative Radical Cyclizations of Benzo[3,4]cyclodec-3-ene-1,5-diynes and N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Boranes.

Borylative radical cyclization of benzo[3,4]cyclodec-3-ene-1,5-diynes to provide 5-borylated 6,7,8,9-tetrahydrobenzo[a]azulenes has been developed. The experimental results suggest that the reaction proceeds by a radical chain mechanism, in which di-tert-butyl hyponitrite (TBHN) works as a good radical initiator to form boryl radicals from N-heterocyclic carbene-boranes (NHC-boranes). The present reaction is a rare model that illustrates addition of boryl radicals to alkynes.

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene Borane: A Readily Available, Liquid N-Heterocyclic Carbene Borane Reagent.

1-Butyl-3-methylimidazol-2-ylidene borane has been synthesized directly from two inexpensive commercial reagents: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and sodium borohydride. This NHC-borane reagent is a stable, free-flowing liquid that shows promise for use in radical, ionic, and metal-catalyzed reactions.

N-Heterocyclic Carbene Boranes are Hydrogen Donors in Masamune-Bergman Reactions of Benzo[3,4]cyclodec-3-ene-1,5-diynes.

Thermal reactions of benzo[3,4]cyclodec-3-ene-1,5-diyne with N-heterocyclic carbene boranes (NHC-boranes) provided mixtures of 9-borylated 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroanthracenes along with 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroanthracene. These products indicate that NHC-boranes serve as hydrogen donors to a p-benzyne intermediate formed by the Masamune-Bergman reaction. Experimental results support a radical mechanism in nonpolar solvents, but suggest that ionic mechanisms compete in the production of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroanthracene when the reaction is performed in a polar solvent.

Understanding Initiation with Triethylboron and Oxygen: The Differences between Low-Oxygen and High-Oxygen Regimes.

A unified kinetic theory for both initiation and autoxidation reactions of Et3B and O2 is put forth, and then divided into low-oxygen and high-oxygen experimental regimes for application of Et3B/O2 as an initiating system. In the low-oxygen regime, only long, efficient chains can be initiated. In the high-oxygen regime, less efficient chains can be initiated but they must compete with autoxidation. We apply the analysis along with new experimental results to show why AIBN and Et3B/O2 give different stereochemical results in hydrostannation reactions of propargyl silyl ethers. Counterintuitively, AIBN is the better initiator, initiating both the rapid chain hydrostannation and the subsequent slow E/Z isomerization. AIBN gives the thermodynamic results. Et3B/O2 is the poorer initiator, initiating only the hydrostannation and not the isomerization. Et3B gives the kinetic result. We further apply the analysis to understand recent results in Et3B/water reductions.

Relative Reactivity of Stable Ligated Boranes and a Borohydride Salt in Rhodium(II)-Catalyzed Boron-Hydrogen Insertion Reactions.

Relative reactivities of a series of neutral ligated boranes L-BH3 (where L is NHC, amine, pyridine, or phosphine) and the cyanoborohydride anion have been assessed in Rh(II)-catalyzed B-H insertion reactions with methyl 2-phenyl-2-diazoacetate. Stable α-boryl ester products were isolated by flash chromatography in all cases except for the salt product from cyanoborohydride. All of the substrates were either comparable to or more reactive than 1,4-cyclohexadiene, which is one of the most reactive substrates in C-H insertion reactions. The range of reactivity between the most reactive pyridine-borane and the least reactive phosphine-borane is a factor of approximately 40.