Organoboron compounds as mild nucleophiles in Lewis acid- and transition metal-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions

The use of air- and water-stable organoboron compounds for C-C bond-forming reactions are reported. These studies include the Lewis acid-promoted additions of boronic esters to N-acyliminium ions and allyl and crotyltrifluoroborate salts to aldehydes. Aryl and alkenyltifluoroborate salts will add to aldehydes under the influence of rhodium catalysis or in the presence of zinc metal. These salts also participate in palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura and other cross-coupling reactions. Finally, a new type of N-heterocyclic carbene ligand is reported and used for Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura couplings.