M. Midland, A. Tramontano, S. Zderic
Aug 15, 1978
Citations
0
Influential Citations
28
Citations
Journal
Journal of Organometallic Chemistry
Abstract
Abstract Certain B-alkyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonanes (9-BBN) reduce benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol under exceptionally mild conditions. Factors which contribute to a high rate of reaction include: an increase in the degree of substitution at the position β to the boron (isobutyl > 1-butyl >> ethyl), the ability of the alkyl group to form a syn-planar B—C—C—H conformation (cyclopentyl ⋍ norbornyl > sec-butyl >> cyclohexyl), and the presence of an electron-withdrawing para-substituent on the benzaldehyde (p-Cl > p-H > p-CH3O). The B-alkyl group is transformed into an olefin as the benzaldehyde is reduced. Elimination takes place predominantly if not exclusively towards the more highly substituted β hydrogen. The reaction obeys second order kinetics. The observations are consistent with a cyclic mechanism rather than a dehydroboration-reduction pathway.