Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025

Efficient Synthesis of All-Carbon Quaternary Centers via the Conjugate Addition of Functionalized Monoorganozinc Bromides
Published on: May 26, 2019
Zinc hydride catalyzed hydroboration of esters
A Ganesh Patro1, Rajata Kumar Sahoo1, Sharanappa Nembenna1
1School of Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER), Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI) Bhubaneswar, 752050, India. snembenna@niser.ac.in.
Abstract:
The conjugated bis-guanidinate (CBG)-supported zinc hydride {LZnH}2; L = {(ArHN)(ArN)-CN-C(NAr)(NHAr); Ar = 2,6-Et2-C6H3} (I) is utilized as a catalyst for the hydroboration of esters with pinacolborane (HBpin) under mild reaction conditions. Various aryl and alkyl substrates containing electron-donating, withdrawing, and cyclic groups of esters are effectively converted into alkoxy boronate esters as products upon hydroboration. Furthermore, stoichiometric experiments have been performed to understand the plausible reaction mechanism for the hydroboration of esters. Additionally, complex (I) was used for the hydroboration of carbonate, carboxylic acid, and anhydride substrates to showcase the broad substrate scope.
Related Concept Videos
Esters to Carboxylic Acids: Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis
During hydrolysis, the ester is first activated towards nucleophilic attack through the protonation of the carboxyl oxygen atom by the acid catalyst. The protonation makes the ester carbonyl carbon more electrophilic. In the next step, water acts as a nucleophile and adds to the...
Esters to Alcohols: Hydride Reductions
Lithium aluminum hydride is a source of hydride ions and functions as a nucleophile. The mechanism proceeds in three steps. Firstly, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the ester to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Subsequently, the carbonyl group re-forms,...
Regioselectivity 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...
Acid Halides to Esters: Alcoholysis
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.
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes

