Organoboranes. 40. A simple preparation of borinic esters from organolithium reagents and selected boronic esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/om00129a019

Monoorganyldiisopropoxyboranes, RB(O-i-Pr)₂, react cleanly at -78 °C with 1 equiv of organolithium compounds, R′Li, to form the corresponding complexes of the borinic acid esters, LiRR′B(O-i-Pr)₂. Treatment of these complexes with an equivalent of anhydrous hydrogen chloride in ethyl ether liberates the borinic esters, RR′BO-i-Pr, and isopropyl alcohol, usually readily separated by distillation. Alternatively, treatment of the complexes with 1 mol of an appropriate acid chloride liberates the borinic esters, RR′BO-i-Pr, and an isopropyl ester, RCO₂-i-Pr. By careful selection of the acid chloride, these two products can be easily separated by distillation. A careful examination of the reaction of other boronic esters in this reaction revealed that the boronic esters of 1,3-propanediol forms the 1:1 complex cleanly on reaction with organolithium compounds at -78 °C. (Formula Presented) Treatment of these ate complexes either with hydrogen chloride in ether or with an appropriate acid chloride provides the pure borinic ester. Consequently, simple rational procedures are now available for the synthesis in high purities and yields of either boronic or borinic acids and esters, either through hydroboration or through the use of organolithium compounds.