Hydrogen Atom Transfer Induced Boron Retaining Coupling of Organoboronic Esters and Organolithium Reagents

alpha-Functionalization of alkyl boronic esters and homologation of aryl boronic esters by regioselective radical C(sp(3))-H activation in boron-ate complexes is reported. Reaction of commercial or readily accessed aryl boronic acid pinacol esters with alkyl lithium reagents provides boron-ate complexes. Selective alpha-C-H abstraction by in situ generated trifluoromethyl radicals leads to radical anions that undergo electron transfer oxidation followed by 1,2-aryl/alkyl migration from boron to carbon to give the alpha-arylated/alkylated alkyl boronic esters. The valuable boronic ester functionality remains in the products and the cheap trifluoromethyl iodide acts as the oxidant in these C-C couplings. The 1,2-alkyl migration from boron to carbon is highly stereospecific allowing access to stereoisomerically pure boronic esters.