Access to Unexplored 3D Chemical Space: cis-Selective Arene Hydrogenation for the Synthesis of Saturated Cyclic Boronic Acids

Abstract

A new class of saturated boron-incorporated cyclic molecules has been synthesized employing an arene-hydrogenation methodology. cis-Selective hydrogenation of easily accessible, and biologically important molecules comprising benzoxaborole, benzoxaborinin, and benzoxaboripin derivatives is reported. Among the various catalysts tested, rhodium cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene [Rh-CAAC] (1) pre-catalyst revealed the best hydrogenation activity confirming turnover number up to 1400 with good to high diastereoselectivity. A broad range of functional groups was tolerated including sensitive substituents such as −F, −CF3, and −silyl groups. The utility of the synthesized products was demonstrated by the recognition of diols and sugars under physiological conditions. These motifs can have a substantial importance in medicinal chemistry as they possess a three-dimensional structure, are highly stable, soluble in water, form hydrogen bonds, and interact with diols and sugars.