xlzhang

A new catalytic system based on a Zn^II NHC precursor has been developed for the cross-coupling reaction of alkyl halides with diboron reagents, which represents a novel use of a Group XII catalyst for CX borylation. This approach gives borylations of unactivated primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl halides at room temperature to furnish alkyl boronates, with good functional-group compatibility, under mild conditions. Preliminary mechanistic investigations demonstrated that this borylation reaction seems to involve one-electron processes.

Coupling a la carte: A catalytic system based on a Zn^II N-heterocyclic carbene precursor has been developed for the cross-coupling reaction of alkyl halides with diboron reagents (see scheme). This is a novel use of a Group 12 catalyst for CX borylation. IMes=1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene.