Borane ketones

Li, M., Tian, A. Enantioselective reduction of 3,3-dimethyl-butanone-2 with borane catalyzed by oxazaborolidine. Part 1. Quantum chemical computations on the structures and properties of catalyst and catalyst-borane-ketone adducts. THEOCHEM 2001, 544, 25-35. 

The origin of the enantioselectivity has been examined using semiempirical (AMI) computations. " The main differences in stability arise at the stage of formation of the borane-ketone complex, where the boron changes from sp to sp hybridization. The boron substituents introduce additional steric compressions. Table 2.6 gives some typical results for enantioselective reduction of ketones. 

Boranes also reduce ketones and aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols. 

Pyridyl)hydrazine (Aldrich), 4-acetylpyridine (Acros), N,N,N -trimethylethylenediamine (Aldrich), methylrhenium trioxide (Aldrich), InQj (Aldrich), Cu(N0j)2-3H20 (Merck), Ni(N03)2-6Il20 (Merck), Yb(OTf)3(Fluka), Sc(OTf)3 (Fluka), 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (Acros), benzylideneacetone (Aldrich), and chalcone (Aldrich) were of the highest purity available. Borane dimethyl sulfide (2M solution in THE) was obtained from Aldrich. Methyl vinyl ketone was distilled prior to use. Cyclopentadiene was prepared from its dimer immediately before use. (R)-l-acetyl-5-isopropoxy-3-pyrrolin-2-one (4.15) has been kindly provided by Prof H. Hiemstra (University of Amsterdam). 

C = C triple bonds are hydrated to yield carbonyl groups in the presence of mercury (II) ions (see pp. 52, 57) or by successive treatment with boranes and H2O2. The first procedure gives preferentially the most highly substituted ketone, the latter the complementary compound with high selectivity (T.W. Gibson, 1969). 

Moderate yields of acids and ketones can be obtained by paHadium-cataly2ed carbonylation of boronic acids and by carbonylation cross-coupling reactions (272,320,321). In an alternative procedure for the carbonylation reaction, potassium trialkylborohydride ia the presence of a catalytic amount of the free borane is utilized (322). FiaaHy, various tertiary alcohols including hindered and polycycHc stmctures become readily available by oxidation of the organoborane iatermediate produced after migration of three alkyl groups (312,313,323). 

COREY Enalioselaclive borane reduction Enantioselective reduction ol ketones by borane or catecholborane catalyzed by oxazaborolldine 3... 

The hydride-donor class of reductants has not yet been successfully paired with enantioselective catalysts. However, a number of chiral reagents that are used in stoichiometric quantity can effect enantioselective reduction of acetophenone and other prochiral ketones. One class of reagents consists of derivatives of LiAlH4 in which some of die hydrides have been replaced by chiral ligands. Section C of Scheme 2.13 shows some examples where chiral diols or amino alcohols have been introduced. Another type of reagent represented in Scheme 2.13 is chiral trialkylborohydrides. Chiral boranes are quite readily available (see Section 4.9 in Part B) and easily converted to borohydrides. 

In the early work on the synthesis of prostaglandins, zinc borohydride was used for the reduction of the 15-ketone function and a 1 1 mixture of epimeric 15(S)- and 15(/ )-alcohols was generally obtained. Subsequent studies led to reaction conditions for highly selective reduction to the desired 15(S)-alcohol. Some of the results are summarized in the following table. The most practical method is E which utilizes borane as the stoichiometric reductant and a chiral, enzyme-like catalyst which is shown. 

The milder metal hydnde reagents are also used in stereoselective reductions Inclusion complexes of amine-borane reagent with cyclodexnins reduce ketones to opucally active alcohols, sometimes in modest enantiomeric excess [59] (equation 48). Diisobutylaluminum hydride modified by zmc bromide-MMA. A -tetra-methylethylenediamme (TMEDA) reduces a,a-difluoro-[i-hydroxy ketones to give predominantly erythro-2,2-difluoro-l,3-diols [60] (equation 49). The three isomers are formed on reduction with aluminum isopropoxide... 

Difluoroalkenyl boranes, which are prepared in situ, are converted to difluoromethyl ketones by oxidation with hydrogen peroxide m alkaline media [720] (equation 107)... 

Trialky I boranes react rapidly with methyl vinyl ketone (and other a,j8-unsaturated ketones) to yield, after hydrolysis, methyl ketones of the indicated structure 4). The reaction with acrolein is analogous to give jS-alkylpropionaldehydes (5). The process is inefficient in that only one of the three alkyl groups of the borane is converted into product, but the rapidity and ease of carrying out the reaction may be adequate... 

Enolates also result from the deprotonation of ketones 4 by means of dieyclohcxylchloro-borane. As expected, the (A)-enolboranes 5 formed in this way lead to rw/Z-aldols. Remarkably simple induction of diastereoselectivity is achieved in aldol additions with isobutyraldehyde53d< ... 

The (acyloxy)borane complex 9, readily available from tartaric acid derivative 8, also catalyzes aldol additions of silyl enol ethers34 and silylketene acetals3 5 in an enantioselective manner. Thus,. u -ketones 10 and /Thydroxy esters 12 are available34, as well as a-unsubstituted ketones 1135. 

Trialkylboranes react rapidly and in high yields with a-halo ketones,a-halo esters, a-halo nitriles, and a-halo sulfonyl derivatives (sulfones, sulfonic esters, sulfonamides) in the presence of a base to give, respectively, alkylated ketones, esters, nitriles, and sulfonyl derivatives. Potassium tert-butoxide is often a suitable base, but potassium 2,6-di-tert-butylphenoxide at 0°C in THF gives better results in most cases, possibly because the large bulk of the two tert-buXy groups prevents the base from coordinating with the R3B. The trialkylboranes are prepared by treatment of 3 mol of an alkene with 1 mol of BH3 (15-16). With appropriate boranes, the R group transferred to a-halo ketones, nitriles, and esters can be vinylic, or (for a-halo ketones and esters) aryl. " °... 

Such functional groups as OR, OH, NH2, SMe, halogen, and COOR may be present in the molecule," but not groups that are reducible by borane. Hydroboration of enamines with 9-BBN provides an indirect method for reducing an aldehyde or ketone to an alkene, for example. 

Triple bonds can be monohydroborated to give vinylic boranes, which can be reduced with carboxylic acids to cis alkenes or oxidized and hydrolyzed to aldehydes or ketones. Terminal alkynes give aldehydes by this method, in contrast to the mercuric or acid-catalyzed addition of water discussed at 15-4. However, terminal alkynes give vinylic boranes (and hence aldehydes) only when treated with a hindered borane such as 47, 48, or catecholborane (p. 798)," or with BHBr2—SMe2. The reaction between terminal alkynes and BH3 produces 1,1-... 

Vinyl boranes add to conjugated ketones in the presence of a rhodium catalyst (with high asymmetric induction in the presence of BINAP) 7 Alkynyl-boranes also add to conjugated ketones, in the presence of... 

Aldehydes and ketones have been converted to sulfides by treatment with thiols and pyridine-borane, RCOR -I- R"SH —+ RR CHSR", in a reductive alkylation reaction, analogous to 16-6. 

Boranes. Borane (BH3) and substituted boranes reduce aldehydes and ketones in a manner similar to their addition to C=C bonds (15-16). That is, the boron adds to the oxygen and the hydrogen to the carbon ... 

For another conversion of trialkylboranes to ketones, see 18-26. Other conversions of boranes to secondary alcohols are also known. 

Formation of Alkynes, Alkenes, and Ketones from Boranes and Acetylides... 

Reaction of halo ketones or diazo ketones with boranes 10-112 Carbonylation of alkyl halides... 

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