Iridium-catalyzed borylation of secondary C-H bonds in cyclic ethers

J Am Chem Soc. 2012 Aug 1;134(30):12422-5. doi: 10.1021/ja305596v. Epub 2012 Jul 20.

Abstract

The borylation of secondary C-H bonds, specifically secondary C-H bonds of cyclic ethers, with a catalyst generated from tetramethylphenanthroline and an iridium precursor is reported. This borylation occurs with unique selectivity for the C-H bonds located β to the oxygen atoms over the weaker C-H bonds located α to oxygen atoms. Mechanistic studies imply that the C-H bond cleavage occurs directly at the β position rather than at the α position followed by isomerization of a reaction intermediate.