Boranes to alkenes

Another example of great synthetic interest, involves the hydroboration reaction of alkenes [62], In general, the addition of borane to alkenes proceeds stepwise, the final product being the trialkylborane. However, hindered alkenes react slowly, especially when the dialkylborane precipitates from the medium. It was found that trialkyl bor-anes could be obtained rapidly under sonication, even with highly hindered substrates (Eq. 3.5). Applications of this useful modification were published, among which were the reduction-hydroxylation of vinyl groups by 9-BBN [63,64]. 

Addition of alane and borane to alkenes affords a host of alkylated alanes and boranes with various reducing properties (and sometimes bizarre names) diisobutylalane (Dibal-H ) [104], 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) (prepared from borane and 1,5-cyclooctadiene) [705], mono- [106,107] and diiso-pinocampheylborane (B-di-3-pinanylborane) (both prepared from borane and optically active a-pinene) [108], isopinocampheyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1 Jnonane alias B-3-pinanyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (3-pinanyl-9-BBN) (prepared from 9-borabicyclo [3.3.1]nonane and a-pinene) [709], NB-Enanthrane prepared from 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane and nopol benzyl ether) [770] and others. ... 

For other methods of converting boranes to alkenes, see Pelter Subrahmanyam Laub Gould Harrison Tetrahedron Lea. 1975, 1633 Utimoto Uchida Yamaya Nozaki Tetrahedron 1977, 33, 1943 Ncube Pelter Smith Tetrahedron Lea. 1979,189S Levy Angelastro Marinelli Synthesis 1980,943 Brown Lee Kulkami Synthesis 1982, 193 Pelter Hughes Rao J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. I 1982, 719 Hoshi Masuda Arase Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 1986,59, 3983 Brown Bhat J. Org. Chem. 1988, 53, 6009. 

The electrophilic addition of hydrogen-bearing boranes to alkenes (hydroboration), now recognized as a vital component of organic synthesis, is covered in Chapter 1.7 of this volume. The boron compounds that do fall under the realm of this chapter are boron bromides. Suzuki and coworkers have demonstrated... 

Transfers of hydride from boron or lithium to carbon usually occur in the context of addition of the complete M—H moiety to polar or non-polar unsaturation. Additions of boranes to alkenes have been extensively reviewed (Brown et al., 1983a), but the experimental characterization of the hydroboration transition state remains problematic. Dialkylboranes, including 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (Wang and Brown, 1980), borinane (Brown et al., 1984), and disiamylborane (Chandrasekharan and Brown, 1985) have now been shown to be dimeric in hydrocarbon and ethereal solvents. With unreactive alkenes, their additions are first order in alkene and half order in the dimer. With reactive terminal alkenes, the reactions are first order only in dimer, with intermediate behaviour between these extremes. A reaction scheme (10) involving reaction of monomeric borane with the alkene satisfies the data, with the observed order depending on the ratio k i/k2. 

The addition of borane to alkenes was first reported by H. C. Brown et al. [3] in 1956. The anti-Markovnikov insertion of an unsaturated moiety into a B-H bond of the borane (R2BH, RBH2 and BH3) proved to be the initial step for introduction of a very wide variety of functional groups. Within the following decade, the same author described the replacement of a boron atom by an amino group, affording a synthetic route from alkenes to amines [4] (Scheme 1). 

Hydrogen peroxide, H202 Oxidizes organoboranes to yield alcohols. Used in conjunction with addition of borane to alkenes, the overall transformation effects syn Markovnikov addition of water to an alkene (Section 7.5). 

The addition of borane to alkenes is an electrophilic process, but it is concerted. The alkene donates electron density to the borane but a hydrogen shifts to carbon. 

Organoboranes are obtained by addition of borane or alkyl boranes to alkenes (or alkynes). Borane itself can be prepared by reaction of boron trifluoride ether-ate with sodium borohydride. Borane exists as a dimer, but solutions containing an electron donor, such as an ether, amine or sulfide, allow adduct formation. The complexes BHa-THF and the borane-dimethyl sulfide complex BH3 SMc2 are commercially available and provide a convenient source of borane. The dimethyl sulfide complex is more stable than BHa-THF and has the additional advantage that it is soluble in a variety of organic solvents, such as diethyl ether and hexane. 

Addition of borane to alkenes is regioselective and stereoselective in the following ways ... 

By far the most widely used method for making boron-carbon bonds is by the addition of boranes to alkenes or alkynes. Much of the work in this area is due to H.C. Brown. This reaction is termed hydroboration . Although it is reversible the equilibrium normally lies in favour of product rather than reactants in ether solvents at room temperature, so that the addition goes to completion. On heating above ca. 100°C organoboranes with a j5-C—H function eliminate alkene, that is, the reverse reaction takes place. Isomerization of alkylboranes occurs by a series of these addition-elimination steps, leading eventually to terminal boranes. The alkene can then be displaced by a less volatile alkene. The direction of this... 

The addition of borane to alkenes is stereospecifically cis and leads to the formation of tri-alkylboranes. These may be oxidized to alcohols using the anion of hydrogen peroxide. Overall addition of water is achieved, in a c/s-stereospecific, anti-Markovnikov manner. Hydroboration/oxidation of alkynes gives ketones, after tautomerization of the enol formed. c/s-Dihydroxylation of alkenes is accomplished with catalytic OSO4 plus an oxidant such as NMO or K3[Fe(CN)g]. This contrasts with the formation of frans-diols by epoxidation of alkenes followed by the opening of the epoxide with hydroxyl ion. 

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