Ferrocenium Boronic Acid Catalyzed Deoxygenative Coupling of Alcohols with Carbon- and Nitrogen-Based Borate and Silane Nucleophiles

A boronic acid catalyzed carbon–carbon and carbon–nitrogen bond-forming reaction for the functionalization of various π-activated alcohols has been developed. Ferrocenium boronic acid hexafluoroantimonate salt was identified as an effective catalyst in the direct deoxygenative coupling of alcohols with a variety of potassium trifluoroborate and organosilane nucleophiles. In a comparison between these two classes of nucleophiles, the use of organosilanes leads to higher reaction yields, increased diversity of the alcohol substrate scope, and high E/Z selectivity. Furthermore, the reaction proceeds under mild conditions and yields up to 98%. Computational studies provide a rationalization for a mechanistic pathway for the retention of E/Z stereochemistry when E or Z alkenyl silanes are used as nucleophiles. This methodology is complementary to existing methodologies for deoxygenative coupling reactions involving organosilanes, and it is effective with a variety of organosilane nucleophile sub-types, including allylic, vinylic, and propargylic trimethylsilanes.