Radical Chain Reactions Organoborane Initiators

The free radical addition of a thiol to carbon-carbon double or triple bonds is a well-established reaction. It represents one of the most useful methods of synthesizing sulfides under mild conditions. Since its discovery [5] and its much later formulation as a free-radical chain reaction (Scheme 1) [6], the anti-Markovnikov addition of thiols to unsaturated compounds has been the subject of many reviews [8, 9]. These reactions were originally initiated by thermal decomposition of peroxides or azocompounds, by UV irradiation or by radiolysis [10]. (An example of addition of 1-thiosugar to alkenes initiated by 2,2 -azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) [11] is reported in equation (1)). More recently, organoboranes have been used as initiators and two examples (Et3B and 9-bora-bicyclo [3.3.1.] nonane) are reported in equations (2) and (3) [12,13]. Troyansky and co-workers [14a] achieved the synthesis of macrocycles like 12- and 13-membered sulfur-containing lactones by the double addition of thiyl radical to alkynes. An example is depicted in equation (4). The same approach has also been applied to the construction of 9- and 18-membered crown thioethers [14b]. The radical chain addition of thiyl radicals to differently substituted allenes has been considered in detail by Paste and co-workers [15], who found that preferential attack occurs at the central allenic carbon and gives rise to a resonance-stabilized ally radical. The addition of benzenethiol to allenic esters has been reported and the product formation has been similarly inferred (equation (5)) [16]. 

Stannyl radicals are usually generated by homolytic substitution at hydrogen in a tin hydride, or at tin in a distannane, or, conjugatively, at the y-carbon atom in an allylstannane.453 The initiator is commonly AIBN at ca. 80 °C. In the presence of a trace of air, organoboranes are oxidized by a radical chain mechanism, and triethylborane is now commonly used as an initiator at temperatures down to —78°C,519 and it can be used in aqueous solution.520 9-Borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) has similarly been used to initiate the reaction of tin hydrides at 0 and —78°C,521 and diethylzinc works in the same way.522... 

In the preceding chapters it was noted that trialkylboranes are useful radical initiators as well as an efficient source of alkyl radicals. Organoboranes can also be used as chain transfer reagents. This approach is used when the direct reaction between the radical precursor and the radical trap cannot proceed (Scheme 6.7). Alkyl radicals generated from the organoboranes are not involved in product formation, but they produce the radicals leading to products. For this purpose, an extra step such as an iodine atom transfer or a... 

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