Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026

Synthesis of a Borylated Ibuprofen Derivative Through Suzuki Cross-Coupling and Alkene Boracarboxylation Reactions
Published on: November 30, 2022
Practical radical cyclizations with arylboronic acids and trifluoroborates
Jonathan W Lockner1, Darryl D Dixon, Rune Risgaard
1Department of Chemistry, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
This study introduces a practical method for radical cyclizations using organoboronic acids and trifluoroborates in water. These reactions are scalable, air-stable, and utilize mild catalytic conditions for generating complex polycyclic structures.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Synthetic Chemistry
Background:
- Radical cyclizations are crucial for synthesizing complex organic molecules.
- Developing mild, efficient, and scalable methods for these transformations remains a key challenge in synthetic chemistry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop practical, scalable, and environmentally friendly conditions for radical cyclizations.
- To demonstrate the utility of organoboronic acids and trifluoroborates in these reactions under mild conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing catalytic silver nitrate and stoichiometric potassium persulfate.
- Performing reactions in water under open-air conditions.
- Employing organoboronic acids and trifluoroborates as radical precursors.
Main Results:
- Successful implementation of Pschorr-type cyclizations.
- Demonstration of tandem radical cyclization/trap cascades.
- Generation of diverse polycyclic scaffolds under mild, scalable conditions.
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a practical and sustainable approach to synthesizing polycyclic compounds.
- The use of water as a solvent and open-air conditions highlight the robustness of the methodology.
- This work expands the toolkit for radical cyclization reactions in organic synthesis.
Related Concept Videos
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Fluorination and Iodination of Benzene
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Radical Substitution: Allylic Bromination
Radical Substitution: Hydrogenolysis of Alkyl Halides with Tributyltin Hydride
The bonds formed in this reaction are stronger than the bonds broken, making it energetically favorable. The reaction follows a radical chain mechanism similar to radical halogenation reactions,...
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Radical Reactivity: Intramolecular vs Intermolecular

