The transition metal-catalysed hydroboration reaction.

The use of transition metals to catalyse the addition of hydridoboranes to unsaturated organic molecules was initially realised several decades ago. Although this area of chemistry received considerable attention at the time, interest in this reaction and its use in organic synthesis waned for several years. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, this amazing catalytic reaction has grown to include the use of earth-abundant metal catalysts and a much wider range of organic substrates. Indeed, it is now commonly utilised as a diagnostic tool to assess the reactivity and catalytic ability of newly generated transition metal and main group complexes. As this field is progressing so rapidly, this review highlights some important advances up to the end of 2021 and into early 2022. Excluded from this review are 'hydroboration' reactions using diboron sources.

Boron Oxide Nanoparticles Exhibit Minor, Species-Specific Acute Toxicity to North-Temperate and Amazonian Freshwater Fishes.

Boron oxide nanoparticles (nB2O3) are manufactured for structural, propellant, and clinical applications and also form spontaneously through the degradation of bulk boron compounds. Bulk boron is not toxic to vertebrates but the distinctive properties of its nanostructured equivalent may alter its biocompatibility. Few studies have addressed this possibility, thus our goal was to gain an initial understanding of the potential acute toxicity of nB2O3 to freshwater fish and we used a variety of model systems to achieve this. Bioactivity was investigated in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes and at the whole animal level in three other North and South American fish species using indicators of aerobic metabolism, behavior, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, and ionoregulation. nB2O3 reduced O. mykiss hepatocyte oxygen consumption (MO2) by 35% at high doses but whole animal MO2 was not affected in any species. Spontaneous activity was assessed using MO2 frequency distribution plots from live fish. nB2O3 increased the frequency of high MO2 events in the Amazonian fish Paracheirodon axelrodi, suggesting exposure enhanced spontaneous aerobic activity. MO2 frequency distributions were not affected in the other species examined. Liver lactate accumulation and significant changes in cardiac acetylcholinesterase and gill Na+/K+-ATPase activity were noted in the north-temperate Fundulus diaphanus exposed to nB2O3, but not in the Amazonian Apistogramma agassizii or P. axelrodi. nB2O3 did not induce oxidative stress in any of the species studied. Overall, nB2O3 exhibited modest, species-specific bioactivity but only at doses exceeding predicted environmental relevance. Chronic, low dose exposure studies are required for confirmation, but our data suggest that, like bulk boron, nB2O3 is relatively non-toxic to aquatic vertebrates and thus represents a promising formulation for further development.

Organocatalytic trans Phosphinoboration of Internal Alkynes.

We report the first trans phosphinoboration of internal alkynes. With an organophosphine catalyst, alkynoate esters and the phosphinoboronate Ph2 P-Bpin are efficiently converted into the corresponding trans-α-phosphino-ß-boryl acrylate products in moderate to good yield with high regio- and Z-selectivity. This reaction operates under mild conditions and demonstrates good atom economy, requiring only a modest excess of the phosphinoboronate. X-ray crystallography experiments allowed structural assignment of the unprecedented and densely functionalized (Z)-α-phosphino-ß-boryl acrylate products.

The phosphinoboration of acyl chlorides.

This investigation examines the reactivity of phosphinoboronate esters Ph2PBpin (pin = 1,2-O2C2Me4) and Ph2PBcat (cat = 1,2-O2C6H4), as well as other phosphinoboron species, with various aryl and aliphatic acyl chlorides. These reactions proceed smoothly to give acyl phosphines of the type RC(O)PR'2 along with loss of a boron-chloride compound. In some cases, a second equivalent of the phosphinoboron species can add to the C[double bond, length as m-dash]O double bond at elevated temperatures to give the corresponding diphosphines RC(OBR''2)(PR'2)2. These ambiphilic diphosphines behave like substituted (1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) derivatives in a reaction of PhC(OBpin)(PPh2)2 (2a) with (η5-C9H7)Rh(η2-coe)2 (coe = cis-cyclooctene) affording the indenyl rhodium complex (η5-C9H7)Rh(PhC(OBpin)(PPh2)2) (3a) where the phosphines are bound to the metal centre in a κ2-P,P bidentate manner.

The Phosphinoboration of N-Heterocycles.

The addition of phosphinoboronate ester Ph2 PBpin (pin=1,2-O2 C2 Me4 ) (1) to a number of different N-heterocycles has been investigated. Reaction of 1 with pyridine resulted in highly selective formation of the corresponding 1,4-addition product, with addition of the electron-deficient Bpin group to the pyridine nitrogen atom and the phosphido group to the para carbon atom. Conversely, reactions of para-substituted pyridine derivatives occurred predominately to afford 1,2-addition products while quinoline reacted to afford the 1,2-adduct which ultimately isomerized to afford the corresponding 1,4-addition product. Preliminary computational studies have been undertaken to explore possible pathways for these transformations including transfer of the PPh2- anion from [B(PPh2 )2 pin]- to the 4-position of a borenium/boronium activated pyridine and concerted pathways for 1,2-addition via intramolecular nucleophilic attack of PPh2 at C2 of a Ph2 PBpin-coordinated pyridine via a four-centered transition state and intramolecular transfer of PPh2 to the 2-position of a boron-activated pyridine in a phosphido-bridged dimer involving a six-centered transition state.

Rhenium-catalysed hydroboration of aldehydes and aldimines.

The first examples for the rhenium-catalysed hydroboration of aldehydes, ketones and aldimines, including heteroaromatic quinoline, are reported herein. Reactions are remarkably chemoselective and tolerant of several functional groups. A wide array of rhenium complexes were efficient pre-catalysts for these hydroborations, including new low-valent complexes of the formula [Re(N-N)(CO)3(L)]X (N-N = bipy derivative, L = labile ligand/solvent, and X = [BArF4]- and [B(3,5-di-tBu-cat)2]-), which have been characterized fully including an X-ray diffraction study for [Re(bipy)(CO)3(quin)][BArF4] (2). A new silver spiroboronate ester Ag[B(3,5-di-tBu-cat)2](NCCH3)3 (3) was prepared and characterized fully, including an X-ray diffraction study, and used to make one of the new rhenium complexes.

Strategic Trimethylsilyldiazomethane Insertion into pinB-SR Followed by Selective Alkylations.

The insertion of the diazo derivative Me3SiCHN2 into pinB-SR σ bonds (R = Ph, Tol, Bn) allows a direct synthesis of multisubstituted H-C(SR)(Bpin)(SiMe3) compounds. Consecutive base-assisted transformations of HC(S)(B) (Si) systems lead to deborylative alkylations, Sommelet-Haüser rearrangements, and deprotoalkylations. Intramolecular cyclizations can be selectively performed either via desilylative or deborylative manifolds by fine-tuning the base employed.

Synthesis and biological activity of arylspiroborate salts derived from caffeic Acid phenethyl ester.

Two novel boron compounds containing caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) derivatives have been prepared and characterized fully. These new compounds and CAPE have been investigated for potential antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and their ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase and whether chelation to boron improves their biological activity. Sodium salt 4 was generally more active than ammonium salt 5 in the biological assays and surpassed the radical scavenging ability of CAPE. Compounds 4 and 5 were more active than CAPE and Zileuton in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These results clearly show the effectiveness of the synthesized salts as transporter of CAPE.

The phosphinoboration reaction.

The synthesis of phosphinoboronate esters containing a single P-B bond is reported, together with preliminary reactivity studies towards a range of organic substrates. These compounds add readily to aldehydes, ketones, aldimines, and α,ß-unsaturated enones to give primarily the corresponding 1,2-addition products containing a new P-C bond. The first examples of transition-metal-catalyzed phosphinoborations of C-C multiple bonds in which P-C and B-C bonds are formed in a single step are also disclosed; allenes react by a highly regioselective 1,2-addition whereas terminal alkynes undergo a formal 1,1-addition.

Thioboration of α,ß-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes toward the synthesis of ß-sulfido carbonyl compounds.

Herein a direct ß-sulfido carbonyl compound synthesis by the easy activation of RS-Bpin reagents with α,ß-unsaturated ketones and aldehydes is reported. This convenient methodology can be performed at room temperature with no other additives. The key point of this reactivity is based on the Lewis acidic properties of the boryl unit of the RS-Bpin reagent interacting with the C═O oxygen. Consequently, the SR unit becomes more nucleophilic and promotes the 1,4- versus the 1,2-addition, as a function of the involved substrate. The thioborated products can be further transformed into ß-sulfido carbonyl compounds by addition of MeOH.

Face to face activation of a phenylselenium borane with α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl substrates: facile synthesis of C-Se bonds.

Activated olefins directly react with a phenylselenium borane, at room temperature, without any metal or organocatalytic assistance. Up to 10 examples of ß-(phenylseleno) substituted ketones and aldehydes have been prepared and theoretical evidence for the mechanism opens up non-existing pathways to create C-heteroatom bonds as a general tool.

Pyridinones are not antioxidants as shown by kinetics of free radical autoxidation, but they prevent radical oxidations catalyzed by toxic heavy metals.

Three 2-methyl-3-hydroxypyridinones, 1-methyl-, 1; 1-(4-methoxy)phenyl-, 2; and 1-(4-dimethylamino)phenyl-, 3, were discovered not to possess strong antioxidant properties contrary to literature reports. These pyridinones were not active chain-breaking antioxidants toward peroxyl radicals generated from styrene or methyl oleate initiated by azobis-2-methylpropylnitrile (AIBN) in solution compared to known phenolic antioxidants, 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychroman (PMHC) or 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methoxyphenyl (DBHA). Pyridinone 2 exhibited weak antioxidant activity in cumene, kinh = 1.3 × 10(3) M(-1) s(-1), compared to 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT), kinh = 4.3 × 10(3) M(-1) s(-1). The pyridinones were not active antioxidants during lipid peroxidation initiated by azobis-2-amidinopropane·2HCl (ABAP) in aqueous-lipid dispersions of 0.50 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles where 2 did not inhibit peroxidation of methyl oleate at pH 7.0 or 4.0, while BHT exhibited effective suppression of oxygen uptake. In addition, 2 did not exhibit any cooperative antioxidant effect in combination with Trolox during inhibited peroxidation of linoleic acid in micelles. Pyridinones were effective preventative antioxidants in aqueous-lipid dispersions against reactions initiated by heavy metal ions, notably copper; for example, 2 blocked peroxidation of linoleic acid initiated by Cu ions in SDS micelles. In particular, both 2 and 3 were active in preventing the rapid pro-oxidation effects, "spikes", of very rapid oxygen uptake when phenolic antioxidants PMHC or Trolox were added to peroxidations initiated by Cu(2+). A proposal is given to account for such pro-oxidant effects.

Addition of boranes to N-aryl-salicylaldimines: intramolecular hydrogenation of imines.

Addition of boranes to N-aryl-salicylaldimines takes place initially at the reactive phenolic O-H bond to give an activated boron-containing imine and dihydrogen. In some cases a subsequent intramolecular hydrogenation step is observed and the C=N imine bond is reduced to the corresponding amine. Reactions with dimesitylborane in THF are unique in that the reduced amine product is the major product observed in solution.

Arylspiroboronate esters: from lithium batteries to wood preservatives to catalysis.

The addition of catechol derivatives to boric acid affords a diverse family of compounds called arylspiroboronate esters. Due to boron's relatively low toxicity towards mammals, arylspiroboronate esters have several biological applications and are active for the treatment of wood against fungi and rot. These compounds are also finding increased use in organic synthesis and in catalysis. This critical review presents the synthesis, properties and applications of these remarkable compounds (149 references).

Synthesis and structure of indenyl rhodium(I) complexes containing unsaturated phosphines: catalyst precursors for alkene hydroboration.

The indenyl compound (eta(5)-C(9)H(7))Rh(coe)(2) (1, coe = cis-cyclooctene) has been prepared as a thermally stable alternative to the diethylene derivative (eta(5)-C(9)H(7))Rh(eta(2)-H(2)C[double bond, length as m-dash]CH(2))(2). Compound 1 reacts with unsaturated phosphines Ph(2)PR (R = CH[double bond, length as m-dash]CH(2), 2; CH(2)CH=CH(2), 3; and C triple bond C-tert-Bu, 4) to give complexes of the type (eta(5)-C(9)H(7))Rh(Ph(2)PR)(2), where bonding occurs through the phosphorus atom. Addition of Ph(2)PC triple bond CPPh(2) to 1 gave the dimer [(eta(5)-C(9)H(7))Rh(micro-Ph(2)PC triple bond CPPh(2))](2) (5). Solution and solid state data showed that these new phosphine complexes have only a moderate amount of distortion within the indenyl ring. These compounds were found to catalyse the hydroboration of vinylarenes and the first example of an internal hydroboration of diphenylvinylphosphine has been reported.

Synthesis, characterization, and antifungal activity of boron-containing thiosemicarbazones.

Addition of thiosemicarbazide, 4-allylthiosemicarbazide, and 4-phenylthiosemicarbazide to (formylphenyl)boronic acids affords a series of thiosemicarbazones containing boronic acids. Addition of 2-formylphenylboronic acid to the thiosemicarbazides gave the corresponding cyclic 2,3,1-benzodiazaborines. All new compounds have been investigated for potential antifungal activity.

Synthesis, characterization, and reactivity of rhodium(I) acetylacetonato complexes containing pyridinecarboxaldimine ligands.

Addition of o-C 6H 4NCHNAr to Rh(coe) 2(acac) (coe = cis-cyclooctene, acac = acetylacetonato) gave several new iminopyridine rhodium(I) complexes of the type Rh(acac)(kappa (2)- o-C 6H 4 NCH NAr) ( 1a Ar = 4-C 6H 4-OMe; 1b Ar = 2,6-C 6H 3-Me 2; 1c Ar = 2,6-C 6H 3-Et 2; 1d Ar = 2,6-C 6H 3- i-Pr 2). All new rhodium complexes have been characterized by a number of physical methods, including multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction studies for 1b and 1c. Addition of CHCl 3 to 1a afforded the corresponding rhodium(III) complex trans-Rh(kappa (2)- o-C 6H 4 NCH NAr)(CHCl 2)(Cl)(acac) ( 2). Addition of B 2cat 3 (cat = 1,2-O 2C 6H 4) to 1 gave zwitterionic Rh(eta (6)-catBcat)(kappa (2)- o-C 6H 4 NCH NAr) ( 3). The molecular structure of 3b has been confirmed by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study and shows that the N 2Rh fragment is bound to the catBcat anion via one of the catecholato groups in a eta (6)-fashion. These complexes have also been examined for their ability to catalyze the hydroboration of a series of vinylarenes. Reactions using catecholborane and pinacolborane seem to proceed largely through a dehydrogenative borylation mechanism to give a number of boronated products.

Ethyl 6-methyl-4-[2-(4,4,5,5-tetra-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)thio-phen-3-yl]-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetra-hydro-pyrimidine-5-carboxyl-ate.

A new Biginelli compound, C(18)H(25)BN(2)O(4)S(2), containing a boronate ester group was synthesized from a lithium bromide-catalysed reaction. The compound crystallizes with two independent mol-ecules in the asymmetric unit that differ mainly in the conformation of the ester functionality. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter-molecular N-H⋯O and N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds involving the 3,4-dihydro-pyrimidine-2(1H)-thione NH groups as donors and the carbonyl O and thio-phene S atoms as acceptors.

Effect of a novel molybdenum ascorbate complex on ex vivo myocardial performance in chemical diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The insulin-like action of metal complexes on target tissues, including the heart, has been reported in experimental diabetes mellitus. Since streptozotocin-induced diabetes is associated with insulin deficiency and left ventricular dysfunction, this study was designed to determine whether the novel metal complex molybdenum ascorbate [MoO(2)(aa)(2)] would improve cardiac function in this model of diabetes. METHODS: Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 6) following an intravenous injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). After 8 weeks of diabetes, cardiac function was determined in isolated working hearts perfused with 11 mmol/L glucose, 1.2 mmol/L palmitate and 3% albumin. MoO(2)(aa)(2 )was added directly into the perfusate of working hearts at a concentration of 200 micromol/L for a period of 30 minutes. Age-matched control rats served as controls (n = 6). RESULTS: Cardiac function, expressed as heart rate (HR) and aortic flow, was significantly decreased in diabetic hearts compared with control hearts. The diabetic state was associated with 23% and 60% reductions in HR and aortic flow, respectively. Short-term addition of MoO(2)(aa)(2) was beneficial and partially prevented the attenuation in diabetic rat heart function. MoO(2)(aa)(2 )increased HR by 15%, while aortic flow was increased by 85%. In control hearts, MoO(2)(aa)(2) had no effect on HR and increased aortic flow by 12%. CONCLUSION: This study extends previous observations on the benefit of metal complexes in experimental diabetes. Our results indicate that short-term treatment with MoO(2)(aa)(2) partially reversed the left ventricular dysfunction associated with the streptozotocin model of diabetes.