Steven R. Wisniewski

Stereospecific Cross-Coupling of Secondary Organotrifluoroborates: Potassium 1-(Benzyloxy)alkyltrifluoroborates

Potassium 1-(alkoxy/acyloxy)alkyltrifluoroborates have been synthesized through a copper-catalyzed diboration of aldehydes and subsequent conversion of the resulting potassium 1-(hydroxy)alkyltrifluoroborates. The palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura reaction employing the potassium 1-(benzyloxy)alkyltrifluoroborates with aryl and heteroaryl chlorides provides access to protected secondary alcohols in high yields. The β-hydride elimination pathway is avoided through use of the benzyl protecting group, which is proposed to stabilize the diorganopalladium intermediate by coordination of the arene to the metal center. This cross-coupling is stereospecific with complete retention of stereochemistry.

Ligand-Promoted Meta-C–H Arylation of Anilines, Phenols, and Heterocycles

Here we report the development of a versatile 3-acetylamino-2-hydroxypyridine class of ligands that promote meta-C-H arylation of anilines, heterocyclic aromatic amines, phenols, and 2-benzyl heterocycles using norbornene as a transient mediator. More than 120 examples are presented, demonstrating this ligand scaffold enables a wide substrate and coupling partner scope. Meta-C-H arylation with heterocyclic aryl iodides as coupling partners is also realized for the first time using this ligand. The utility for this transformation for drug discovery is showcased by allowing the meta-C-H arylation of a lenalidomide derivative. The first steps toward a silver-free protocol for this reaction are also demonstrated.

A Convergent, Modular Approach to Functionalized 2,1-Borazaronaphthalenes from 2-Aminostyrenes and Potassium Organotrifluoroborates

Azaborines are an important class of compounds with applications in both medicinal chemistry and materials science. The first borazaronaphthalene, 2-chloro-2,1-borazaronaphthalene, was reported in 1959; however, access to more highly functionalized substructures has been limited because of the harsh reaction conditions required to displace the chloride on boron. A convergent approach has been developed to synthesize disubstituted 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes from N-substituted 2-aminostyrenes and potassium organotrifluoroborates, where the potassium organotrifluoroborate is converted to the active R-BX2 species (X = Cl or F) in situ by addition of a fluorophile. Starting from aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkynyl-, alkenyl-, and alkyltrifluoroborates, a library of highly functionalized 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes were synthesized in one step under mild, transition-metal-free conditions.

Reductive Cross-Coupling of 3-Bromo-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes with Alkyl Iodides

Conditions have been developed for the reductive cross-coupling of 3-bromo-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes with primary and secondary alkyl iodides. This method allows direct alkylation of azaborine cores, providing efficient access to functionalized isosteres of naphthalene derivatives.

Accessing Molecularly Complex Azaborines: Palladium-Catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Couplings of Brominated 2,1-Borazaronaphthalenes and Potassium Organotrifluoroborates

Despite their potential applications in both medicinal chemistry and materials science, there have been limited reports on the functionalization of 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes since their discovery in 1959. To access new chemical space and build molecular complexity, the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of brominated 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes has been investigated. The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling proceeds with an array of potassium (hetero)aryltrifluoroborates in high yield with low catalyst loadings under mild reaction conditions. By the use of a high-yielding bromination of various 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes to generate electrophilic azaborine species, a library of 3-(hetero)aryl and 3,6-diaryl-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes has been synthesized.

Accessing an Azaborine Building Block: Synthesis and Substitution Reactions of 2-Chloromethyl-2,1-borazaronaphthalene

One major synthetic route to the synthesis of benzyl amines, ethers, and esters is the nucleophilic substitution of a benzylic halide. To develop a method for the facile synthesis and functionalization of the isosteric azaborines, 2-chloromethyl-2,1-borazaronaphthalene has been synthesized in one step to afford a similar common precursor to a benzylic halide. This B–N isostere has been shown to be an effective building block by serving as an electrophile in substitution reactions with a large variety of nucleophiles.

Accessing 2-(hetero)arylmethyl-, -allyl-, and -propargyl-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes: palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings of 2-(chloromethyl)-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes.

The synthesis of 2-(chloromethyl)-2,1-borazaronaphthalene has provided an opportunity to expand dramatically the functionalization of the azaborines. This azaborinyl building block can serve as the electrophile in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to form sp3–sp and sp3–sp2 bonds. The cross-coupling reactions of 2-(chloromethyl)-2,1-borazaronaphthalene with potassium (hetero)aryl- and alkenyltrifluoroborates as well as terminal alkynes provides access to a variety of novel azaborines, allowing a library of pseudobenzylic substituted azaborines to be prepared from one common starting material.

Accessing 2,1-borazaronaphthols: self-arylation of 1-alkyl-2-aryl-3-bromo-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes.

Unlike their B-alkyl counterparts, brominated N-alkyl B-aryl 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes undergo a self-arylation reaction in the presence of a catalytic amount of palladium and base, in which the azaborine serves as both the electrophile and the nucleophile. The products of the self-arylation are air- and moisture-stable 2,1-borazaronaphthols, previously only observed in basic alcoholic solvents. The steric encumbrance of the azaborine appears to prevent formation of the corresponding boron acid anhydride, allowing access to a family of 2,1-borazaronaphthol derivatives.

Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of brominated 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes with potassium alkenyltrifluoroborates.

Conditions have been developed for the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of 3-bromo-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes with potassium alkenyltrifluoroborates. Twenty-seven alkenyl-substituted azaborines have been synthesized through this method, providing access to a family of 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes with alkenyl substitution at the C3 position.

Improving Robustness: In Situ Generation of a Pd(0) Catalyst for the Cyanation of Aryl Bromides

Conditions have been developed for the palladium-catalyzed cyanation of aryl bromides utilizing the air-stable XantPhos-PdCl2 precatalyst. By employing a trialkylamine as a reducing agent, the active Pd(0) species is generated in situ, alleviating the need to employ the air-sensitive Pd2(dba)3. Twenty-two substituted benzonitriles have been synthesized using this method.