ß-Boron Effect Enables Regioselective and Stereospecific Electrophilic Addition to Alkenes.

Electrophilic addition to alkenes is a textbook-taught reaction, yet it is not always possible to control the regioselectivity of addition to unsymmetrical 1,2-disubstituted substrates. We report the observation and applications of the ß-boron effect that accounts for high regioselectivity in electrophilic addition reactions to allylic MIDA (N-methyliminodiacetic acid) boronates. While the well-established ß-silicon effect bears partial resemblance to the observed reactivity, the silyl group is typically lost during functionalization. In contrast, the boryl moiety is retained in the product when B(MIDA) is used as the nucleophilic stabilizer. Mechanistic studies elucidate the origin of this effect and demonstrate how σ(C-B) hyperconjugation helps stabilize the incipient carbocation. This transformation represents a rare example of the stereospecific hydrohalogenation of secondary allyl MIDA-boronates that proceeds in a syn-fashion.

Regiocontrolled allylic functionalization of internal alkene via selenium-π-acid catalysis guided by boron substitution.

The selenium-π-acid-catalysis has received increasing attention as a powerful tool for olefin functionalization, but the regioselectivity is often problematic. Reported herein is a selenium-catalyzed regiocontrolled olefin transpositional chlorination and imidation reaction. The reaction outcome benefits from an allylic B(MIDA) substitution. And the stabilization of α-anion from a hemilabile B(MIDA) moiety was believed to be the key factor for selectivity. Broad substrate scope, good functional group tolerance and generally good yields were observed. The formed products were demonstrated to be valuable precursors for the synthesis of a wide variety of structurally complex organoborons.

Photochemical Radical C-H Halogenation of Benzyl N-Methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) Boronates: Synthesis of α-Functionalized Alkyl Boronates.

α-Haloboronates are useful organic synthons that can be converted to a diverse array of α-substituted alkyl borons. Methods to α-haloboronates are limiting and often suffer from harsh reaction conditions. Reported herein is a photochemical radical C-H halogenation of benzyl N-methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) boronates. Fluorination, chlorination, and bromination reactions were effective by using this protocol. Upon reaction with different nucleophiles, the C-Br bond in the brominated product could be readily transformed to a series of C-C, C-O, C-N, C-S, C-P, and C-I bonds, some of which are difficult to forge with α-halo sp2 -B boronate esters. An activation effect of B(MIDA) moiety was found.

Halohydroxylation of alkenyl MIDA boronates: switchable stereoselectivity induced by B(MIDA) substituent.

The synthesis of α-boryl halohydrins via difunctionalization of alkenyl MIDA boronates has been reported. Intriguing stereoselectivity was found with different halogen sources, which arises from the special stabilizing effect of the B(MIDA) moiety. The transformation provided cis addition products using Cl+ or Br+ as the halogen source, while trans addition products were obtained when I+ was employed.

Synthesis of fluorinated amphoteric organoborons via iodofluorination of alkynyl and alkenyl MIDA boronates.

The iodofluorination of alkynyl and alkenyl MIDA (N-methyliminodiacetyl) boronates led to the synthesis of two types of fluorinated organoborons bearing a valuable C-I bond. The B(MIDA) moiety confers exclusive regioselectivity to the reaction, and the products were formed in generally good yields. Preliminary utility of the products was demonstrated.

gem-Difluorination of Alkenyl N-methyliminodiacetyl Boronates: Synthesis of α- and ß-Difluorinated Alkylborons.

Organofluorine compounds are widely used in pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and materials sciences. The syntheses and applications of fluorinated organoborons facilitate the rapid and modular assemblies of fluorine-containing molecules because of the versatility of C-B bonds in diverse chemical transformations. Reported herein is a migratory geminal difluorination of aryl-substituted alkenyl N-methyliminodiacetyl (MIDA) boronates using commercially available Py⋅HF as the fluorine source and hyperiodine as the oxidant. The protocol offers facile access to α- and ß-difluorinated alkylboron compounds, both of which have previously been challenging to prepare. Mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, good functional-group tolerance, and moderate to good yields were observed. The utility of these products is demonstrated by further transformations of the C-B bond into other valuable functional groups.

Synthesis of α-CF3 and α-CF2H amines via the aminofluorination of fluorinated alkenes.

A novel synthesis of α-CF3 and α-CF2H amines via the aminofluorination of gem-difluoroalkenes and mono-fluoroalkenes, respectively, is reported. The method employs Selectfluor as an electrophilic fluorine source and acetonitrile as a nitrogen source. Mechanistic studies revealed a single-electron oxidation/fluorine-abstraction/Ritter-type amination pathway. The protocol allowed the synthesis of a broad range of fluorinated amines including those bearing quaternary carbon centers with good efficiency and functional group tolerance.

Synthesis of Alkylated Monofluoroalkenes via Fe-Catalyzed Defluorinative Cross-Coupling of Donor Alkenes with gem-Difluoroalkenes.

A reductive cross-coupling of gem-difluoroalkenes with diverse unactivated and heteroatom substituted olefins through a Fe-catalyzed hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) strategy is reported. Different from the previous HAT-type olefin cross-coupling reactions, the presence of a fluorine atom in the molecule results in a stereoselective ß-F cleavage, leading to a C(sp2)-C(sp3) bond formation. A wide variety of alkylated monofluoroalkenes were obtained in good efficiency with excellent Z selectivity under air- and water-tolerant reaction conditions. A similar defluorinative coupling reaction of monofluoroalkenes was also realized.