Gem-borazirconocene

Treatment of the optically active gem-borazirconocene alkanes with deuterium oxide followed by alkaline oxidation affords the corresponding optically active 1-deuterio primary alcohols. The enantiomeric excess of the resulting primary alcohols represents the diaster-eoselectivity of the asymmetric hydrozirconation (Scheme 7.13). Based on the cost and availability of optically active ligands, three types were explored monoterpenes, 1,2-diols, and 1,2-amino alcohols. Hydrozirconation of optically pure 1-alkenyl boranes 39 provided optically active 1,1-bimetallics 40. 

Having successfully aminated the alkylzirconocene chloride, the reaction was extended to borazirconocene 1,1-alkanes. In fact, amination of gem-borazirconocene alkanes 18 with MSH has proven to be a facile process [119]. Thus, when MSH is added to the gem-bime-tallics in THF at ambient temperature, the amination is complete within 20 min (Scheme 7.16). 

As an example of the selective reactivity of borazirconocene alkenes, their hydrolysis was examined [1]. The carbon—zirconium bond is more reactive than the carbon—boron bond towards various electrophiles, and so hydrolysis can be expected to occur with preferential cleavage of the former bond. Since hydrolysis of alkenylzirconocenes is known to proceed with retention of configuration [4,127—129], a direct utility of 45 is the preparation of (Z)-1-alkenylboronates 57 (Scheme 7.17) [12]. Though the gem-dimetalloalkenes can be isolated, in the present case it is not necessary. The desired (Z)-l-alkenylboronates can be obtained in a one-pot procedure by hydrozirconation followed by hydrolysis with excess H20. The reaction sequence is operationally simple and is compatible with various functional groups such as halides, acetals, silanes, and silyloxy protecting groups [12]. 

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