Selective Hydroborations Using Bis 3-methyl-2-butyl borane BMB

Selective Hydroborations Using Bis(3-methyl-2-butyl)borane (BMB) 

A 500-ml three-necked flask is fitted with a condenser, a pressure-equalizing dropping funnel, a magnetic stirrer, and a thermometer. The flask is charged with a mixture of 33.6 g (0.48 mole) of 2-methyl-2-butene and 180 ml of a 1 M solution of sodium boro-hydride in diglyme. The flask is cooled in an ice bath and stirring begun. Boron trifluoride etherate (0.24 mole) is added dropwise to the mixture and the solution is stirred at 0° for 2 hours. 

The flask is now cooled in an ice-salt bath and 22 g (0.20 mole) of 1-octyne in 20 ml of diglyme is added rapidly (but the temperature is kept at 0-10°). Gradual warming to room temperature completes the hydroboration. 

The alkylborane is then oxidized by the addition of 150 ml of a 15% solution of hydrogen peroxide, while the pH of the reaction mixture is maintained at 7-8 by the simultaneous addition of 3 Asodium hydroxide, the process being carried out at ice-bath temperature. The reaction mixture is neutralized and subjected to steam distillation. The distillate is extracted with ether, and the extract is dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate. After removal of the ether, distillation yields 18.0 g (70%) of n-octanal, bp 83-85733 mm. 

165 mole of BMB (prepared as in the preceding experiment) maintained at 0°, is added 20.4 g (0.15 mole) of /-limonene over a period of 5 minutes. The reaction mixture is allowed to stand at room temperature for approximately 3 hours. It is then oxidized by the addition of 50 ml of 3 A sodium hydroxide followed by 50 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide. The alcohol is worked up in the usual manner. Upon distillation, the primary terpineol is obtained, bp 115-116710 mm. 

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