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Updated: May 20, 2026

Synthesis of a Borylated Ibuprofen Derivative Through Suzuki Cross-Coupling and Alkene Boracarboxylation Reactions
Published on: November 30, 2022
Iridium-catalyzed borylation of secondary C-H bonds in cyclic ethers
Carl W Liskey1, John F Hartwig
1Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.
Abstract:
The borylation of secondary C-H bonds, specifically secondary C-H bonds of cyclic ethers, with a catalyst generated from tetramethylphenanthroline and an iridium precursor is reported. This borylation occurs with unique selectivity for the C-H bonds located β to the oxygen atoms over the weaker C-H bonds located α to oxygen atoms. Mechanistic studies imply that the C-H bond cleavage occurs directly at the β position rather than at the α position followed by isomerization of a reaction intermediate.
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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.
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Hydroboration proceeds in a concerted fashion with the attack of borane on the π bond, giving a cyclic four-centered transition state. The –BH2 group is bonded to the less substituted carbon and –H to the more substituted carbon. The concerted nature requires the simultaneous addition of –H and –BH2 across the same face of the alkene giving syn stereochemistry.
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Halogenation is another class of electrophilic addition reactions where a halogen molecule gets added across a π bond. In alkynes, the presence of two π bonds allows for the addition of two equivalents of halogens (bromine or chlorine). The addition of the first halogen molecule forms a trans-dihaloalkene as the major product and the cis isomer as the minor product. Subsequent addition of the second equivalent yields the tetrahalide.

