Direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron-based organocatalyst scaffold

Abstract Organocatalytic strategies for the direct activation of hydroxy-containing compounds have paled in comparison to those applicable to carbonyl compounds. To this end, boronic acids have emerged as valuable catalysts for the functionalization of hydroxy groups in a mild and selective fashion....

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Main Authors: Jason P. G. Rygus, Dennis G. Hall
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2023-05-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38228-8
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author Jason P. G. Rygus
Dennis G. Hall
author_facet Jason P. G. Rygus
Dennis G. Hall
author_sort Jason P. G. Rygus
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Organocatalytic strategies for the direct activation of hydroxy-containing compounds have paled in comparison to those applicable to carbonyl compounds. To this end, boronic acids have emerged as valuable catalysts for the functionalization of hydroxy groups in a mild and selective fashion. Distinct modes of activation in boronic acid-catalyzed transformations are often accomplished by vastly different catalytic species, complicating the design of broadly applicable catalyst classes. Herein, we report the use of benzoxazaborine as a general scaffold for the development of structurally related yet mechanistically divergent catalysts for the direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols under ambient conditions. The utility of these catalysts is demonstrated in the monophosphorylation of vicinal diols and the reductive deoxygenation of benzylic alcohols and ketones respectively. Mechanistic studies of both processes reveal the contrasting nature of key tetravalent boron intermediates in the two catalytic manifolds.
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spelling doaj.art-7b42fe7d56f249759cb1e21f216de7022023-05-07T11:17:14ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-05-0114111010.1038/s41467-023-38228-8Direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron-based organocatalyst scaffoldJason P. G. Rygus0Dennis G. Hall1Department of Chemistry, Centennial Center for Interdisciplinary Science, University of AlbertaDepartment of Chemistry, Centennial Center for Interdisciplinary Science, University of AlbertaAbstract Organocatalytic strategies for the direct activation of hydroxy-containing compounds have paled in comparison to those applicable to carbonyl compounds. To this end, boronic acids have emerged as valuable catalysts for the functionalization of hydroxy groups in a mild and selective fashion. Distinct modes of activation in boronic acid-catalyzed transformations are often accomplished by vastly different catalytic species, complicating the design of broadly applicable catalyst classes. Herein, we report the use of benzoxazaborine as a general scaffold for the development of structurally related yet mechanistically divergent catalysts for the direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols under ambient conditions. The utility of these catalysts is demonstrated in the monophosphorylation of vicinal diols and the reductive deoxygenation of benzylic alcohols and ketones respectively. Mechanistic studies of both processes reveal the contrasting nature of key tetravalent boron intermediates in the two catalytic manifolds.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38228-8
spellingShingle Jason P. G. Rygus
Dennis G. Hall
Direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron-based organocatalyst scaffold
Nature Communications
title Direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron-based organocatalyst scaffold
title_full Direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron-based organocatalyst scaffold
title_fullStr Direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron-based organocatalyst scaffold
title_full_unstemmed Direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron-based organocatalyst scaffold
title_short Direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron-based organocatalyst scaffold
title_sort direct nucleophilic and electrophilic activation of alcohols using a unified boron based organocatalyst scaffold
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38228-8
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