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Sodium-Mediated Reductive C-C Bond Cleavage Assisted by Boryl Groups
Mizuki Fukazawa1, Fumiya Takahashi1, Takashi Kurogi1
1Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Sakyo-ku, 606-8502 Kyoto, Japan.
Abstract:
In contrast to the well-established oxidative C=C double bond cleavage to give the corresponding carbonyl compounds, little is known about reductive C=C double bond cleavage. Here we report that C-C single bond cleavage in 1,2-diaryl-1,2-diborylethanes proceeds by reduction with sodium metal to yield α-boryl benzylsodium species. In combination with our previous reductive diboration of stilbenes, the overall transformation represents reductive cleavage of the C=C double bonds of stilbene to yield α-boryl-α-sodiated toluenes. This reductive two-step C=C double bond cleavage is applicable to ring-opening or ring-expansion reactions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
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