Toward Efficient Nucleophilic Azaborine Building Blocks for the Synthesis of B-N Naphthyl (Hetero)arylmethane Isosteres

Selectivity in the Elaboration of Bicyclic Borazarenes

Among aromatic compounds, borazarenes represent a significant class of isosteres in which carbon-carbon bonds have been replaced by B-N bonds. Described herein is a summary of the selective reactions that have been developed for known systems, as well as a summary of computationally-based predictions of selectivities that might be anticipated in reactions of yet unrealized substructures.

Photoredox Catalysis Enables Access to N-Functionalized 2,1-Borazaronaphthalenes

The synthesis and utilization of a class of 2,1-borazaronaphthyltrifluoroborate reagents that provide a general solution to the challenge of N-functionalization of the 2,1-borazaronaphthalene core is described. By adorning the nitrogen of this core with a trifluoroboratomethyl unit, a suite of odd-electron processes can be executed, installing motifs that would otherwise be inaccessible using a two-electron approach. In addition, this process enables rapid annulation, furnishing a heretofore unknown polycyclic B-N species.

Cyclopentyl Methyl Ether: An Elective Ecofriendly Ethereal Solvent in Classical and Modern Organic Chemistry

Solvents represent one of the major contributions to the environmental impact of fine-chemical synthesis. As a result, the use of environmentally friendly solvents in widely employed reactions is a challenge of vast real interest in contemporary organic chemistry. Within this Review, a great variety of examples showing how cyclopentyl methyl ether has been established as particularly useful for this purpose are reported. Indeed, its low toxicity, high boiling point, low melting point, hydrophobicity, chemical stability towards a wide range of conditions, exceptional stability towards the abstraction of hydrogen atoms, relatively low latent heat of vaporization, and the ease with which it can be recovered and recycled enable its successful employment as a solvent in a wide range of synthetic applications, including organometallic chemistry, catalysis, biphasic reactions, oxidations, and radical reactions.

Late-stage functionalization of BN-heterocycles

BN/CC isosterism has emerged as a viable strategy to expand the chemical space of organic molecules. In particular, the application of BN/CC isosterism to arenes has received significant attention due to the vast available chemical space provided by aromatic hydrocarbons. The synthetic efforts directed at assembling novel aromatic BN heterocycles have resulted in the discovery of new properties and functions in a variety of fields including biomedical research, medicinal chemistry, materials science, catalysis, and organic synthesis. This tutorial review specifically covers recent advances in synthetic technologies that functionalize assembled boron-nitrogen (BN) heterocycles and highlights their distinct reactivity and selectivity in comparison to their carbonaceous counterparts. It is intended to serve as a state-of-the-art compendium for readers who are interested in the reaction chemistry of BN heterocycles.

The State of the Art in Azaborine Chemistry: New Synthetic Methods and Applications

Boron-nitrogen heteroarenes hold great promise for practical application in many areas of chemistry. Enduring interest in realizing this potential has in turn driven perennial innovation with respect to these compounds' synthesis. This Perspective discusses in detail the most recent advances in methods pertaining to the preparation of BN-isosteres of benzene, naphthalene, and their derivatives. Additional focus is placed on the progress enabled by these syntheses toward functional utility of such BN-heterocycles in biochemistry and pharmacology, materials science, and transition-metal-based catalysis. The prospects for future research efforts in these and related fields are also assessed.

Azaborininones: Synthesis and Structural Analysis of a Carbonyl-Containing Class of Azaborines

An approach to access azaborininones (carbonyl-containing, boron-based heterocyclic scaffolds) using simple reagents and conditions from both organotrifluoroborates and boronic acids is described. An inexpensive, common reagent, SiO₂, was found to serve as both a fluorophile and desiccant to facilitate the annulation process across three different azaborininone platforms. Computational analysis of some of the cores synthesized in this study was undertaken to compare the azaborininones with the analogous carbon-based heterocyclic systems. Computationally derived pK_a values, NICS aromaticity calculations, and electrostatic potential surfaces revealed a unique isoelectronic/isostructural relationship between these azaborines and their carbon isosteres that changed based on boron connectivity. Correlation to experimentally derived data supports the computational findings.

Medicinal Chemistry Profiling of Monocyclic 1,2-Azaborines

The first examples of biologically active monocyclic 1,2-azaborines have been synthesized and demonstrated to exhibit not only improved in vitro aqueous solubility in comparison with their corresponding carbonaceous analogues, but in the context of a CDK2 inhibitor, also improved biological activity and better in vivo oral bioavailability. This proof-of-concept study establishes the viability of monocyclic 1,2-azaborines as a novel pharmacophore with distinct pharmacological profiles that can help address challenges associated with solubility in drug development research.

Method for Accessing Nitrogen-Containing, B-Heteroaryl-Substituted 2,1-Borazaronaphthalenes

The azaborine motif provides a mimic of aromatic systems through replacement of a C═C bond with a B-N bond. In particular, 2,1-borazaronaphthalenes, accessible through robust methods of synthesis and subsequent functionalization, afford an ideal platform to use for a variety of applications. However, the scope of substructures for this archetype has been limited by the lack of nitrogen-containing heteroaryls that can be incorporated within them. In this study, modified reaction conditions were developed to provide access to a wider range of substructures.

Site-Selective and Stereoselective trans-Hydroboration of 1,3-Enynes Catalyzed by 1,4-Azaborine-Based Phosphine-Pd Complex

A concise synthesis of monobenzofused 1,4-azaborine phosphine ligands (Senphos) is described. These Senphos ligands uniquely support Pd-catalyzed trans-selective hydroboration of terminal and internal 1,3-enynes to furnish corresponding dienylboronates in high efficiency and diastereoselectivity. X-ray structural analysis of the Senphos-Pd(0) complex reveals a κ²-P-η²-BC coordination mode, and this isolated complex has been shown to serve as a competent catalyst for the trans-hydroboration reaction. This work demonstrates that the expanded chemical space provided by the BN/CC isosterism approach translates into the functional space in the context of stereoselective catalytic transformations.

Hydrogen Bonding of 1,2-Azaborines in the Binding Cavity of T4 Lysozyme Mutants: Structures and Thermodynamics

Protein crystallography and calorimetry were used to characterize the binding of 1,2-azaborines to model cavities in T4 lysozyme in direct comparison to their carbonaceous counterparts. In the apolar L99A cavity, affinity for Ab dropped only slightly versus benzene. In the cavity designed to accommodate a single hydrogen bond (L99A/M102Q), Gln102═O···H-N hydrogen bonding for Ab and BEtAb was observed in the crystallographic complexes. The strength of the hydrogen bonding was estimated as 0.94 and 0.64 kcal/mol for Ab and BEtAb, respectively. This work unambiguously demonstrates that 1,2-azaborines can be readily accommodated in classic aryl recognition pockets and establishes one of 1,2-azaborine's distinguishing features from its carbonaceous isostere benzene: its ability to serve as an NH hydrogen bond donor in a biological setting.

Diboron(4) Compounds: From Structural Curiosity to Synthetic Workhorse

Although known for over 90 years, only in the past two decades has the chemistry of diboron(4) compounds been extensively explored. Many interesting structural features and reaction patterns have emerged, and more importantly, these compounds now feature prominently in both metal-catalyzed and metal-free methodologies for the formation of B-C bonds and other processes.

A Modular Synthetic Approach to Monocyclic 1,4-Azaborines

A simple and general method for the synthesis of a wide range of monocyclic 1,4-azaborines, including the first examples containing B heteroatoms is described. Post-heterocycle-formation olefin isomerization was employed as a key strategy. This new synthetic method provides fundamental insight into the resonance stabilization and photophysical properties of 1,4-azaborines.

Accessing Elaborated 2,1-Borazaronaphthalene Cores Using Photoredox/Nickel Dual-Catalytic Functionalization

A highly effective method for derivatizing 2,1-borazaronaphthalene cores using ammonium alkylbis(catecholato)silicates via photoredox/nickel dual catalysis is reported. By forging C(sp)(3)-C(sp)(2) bonds via this approach, alkyl fragments with various functional groups can be introduced to the azaborine core, affording previously inaccessible heterocyclic isosteres in good to excellent yields. The base-free, room-temperature conditions outlined allow sensitive functional group tolerance, even permitting the cross-coupling of unprotected primary and secondary amines.

Oxygen insertion into boroles as a route to 1,2-oxaborines

The synthesis of 1,2-oxaborines is accomplishedviathe reaction of pentaarylboroles withN-methylmorpholine-N-oxideviaa 1,1-insertion reaction.