Trialkylborane, alkyl radical precursor

Sect. 3.2). However, this approach is limited to the few trialkylboranes that are easily available and cheap since only one of the three alkyl group is transferred. By using a triethylborane as a chain transfer reagent, the reaction could be extended to alkyl iodides as radical precursors. Bertrand [94,114] and Naito [95,97] reported both the use of triethylborane for the tin-free addition of alkyl iodides to imines. A typical example for a tentative of asymmetric addition to a glyoxylate imine is depicted in Scheme 50 (Eq. 50a). More recently additions to isatin imines were reported (Eq. 50b) as well as addition to 2H-aziridine-3-carboxylates by Lemos [100] and Somfai [101] (Eq. 50c). 

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... 

Homolytic cleavage of the carbon-boron bond of a trialkylborane can be promoted by oxygen. The so-formed alkyl radical can be used in synthesis (for radical reactions, see Section 4.1). Indeed, triethylborane in air can be used to generate radicals from precursors such as alkyl iodides or selenides. Hydroboration followed by addition of an a,(3-unsaturated aldehyde or ketone leads to transfer of an alkyl group from the boron atom via an alkyl radical intermediate. The reaction takes place by addition of the alkyl radical to the conjugated system to form an enol borinate, hydrolysis of which gives the aldehyde or ketone product (5.37). 

---