Synlett 2014; 25(13): 1817-1826
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1339032
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© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Advances in the Ring Opening of Small-Ring Heterocycles with Organoboron Derivatives

Mauro Pineschi*
Dipartimento di Farmacia, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 33, 56126 Pisa, Italy   Fax: +390502219660   Email: pineschi@farm.unipi.it
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 19 December 2013

Accepted after revision: 26 March 2014

Publication Date:
19 May 2014 (online)


Abstract

This is a personal account on how our research group has exploited trivalent boron-containing organic compounds to create new synthetic methods using small-ring heterocycles. A variety of new regioselective ring-opening reactions (including phenolysis and arylation) that exhibit unusual syn-stereoselectivities can be achieved by making use of the Lewis acidity of boron in aryloxyboranes. On the other hand, the use of the nucleophilic character of diboron derivatives permits regio- and stereocontrolled formation of new C–B bonds. An up-to-date critical coverage of recent relevant literature in the field is also provided.

1 Introduction

2 Ring-Opening Reactions with Triaryloxyboranes

2.1 Carbon–Oxygen Bond Formation with Epoxides, Aziri­dines, Oxetanes, and Azetidines

2.2 Carbon–Carbon Bond Formation: Stereoselective Arylations of Epoxides and Aziridines

3 Ring Opening with Diboron Compounds

3.1 Metal-Catalyzed and Metal-Free Borylations of Allylic Epoxides and Aziridines

4 Conclusions