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Updated: Apr 18, 2026
Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides
Published on: May 26, 2019
Asymmetric boronate addition to o-quinone methides: ligand exchange, solvent effects, and Lewis acid catalysis
Matthew N Grayson1, Jonathan M Goodman
1Centre for Molecular Science Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Density functional theory calculations suggest that asymmetric boronate addition to o-quinone methides proceeds via a Lewis acid catalyzed process through a closed six-membered transition structure. The BINOL-derived catalyst undergoes an exchange process with the original ethoxide boronate ligands. This activation mode successfully accounts for the sense and level of enantioselectivity observed experimentally. A qualitative model which accurately predicts the observed enantioselectivity has been developed and is consistent with results from our study of ketone propargylation demonstrating the reaction model's generality. The effects of replacing the BINOL framework with H8-BINOL have been rationalized.
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