Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 2, 2025
Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides
Published on: May 26, 2019
Boron tribromide as a reagent for anti-Markovnikov addition of HBr to cyclopropanes
Matthew H Gieuw1, Shuming Chen2, Zhihai Ke1
1Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shatin NT Hong Kong China yyyeung@cuhk.edu.hk.
Abstract:
Although radical formation from a trialkylborane is well documented, the analogous reaction mode is unknown for trihaloboranes. We have discovered the generation of bromine radicals from boron tribromide and simple proton sources, such as water or tert-butanol, under open-flask conditions. Cyclopropanes bearing a variety of substituents were hydro- and deuterio-brominated to furnish anti-Markovnikov products in a highly regioselective fashion. NMR mechanistic studies and DFT calculations point to a radical pathway instead of the conventional ionic mechanism expected for BBr3.
Related Concept Videos
03:08Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
01:25Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Overview
02:36Regioselectivity and Stereochemistry of Hydroboration
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.
02:15Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
01:17Radical Anti-Markovnikov Addition to Alkenes: Mechanism
The mechanism starts with chain initiation, which involves two steps. In the first chain initiation step, a weak peroxide bond is homolytically cleaved upon mild heating to form two alkoxy radicals. In the second initiation step, a hydrogen atom is abstracted by the alkoxy...
02:35Regioselectivity of Electrophilic Additions-Peroxide Effect