Acid-promoted metal-free protodeboronation of arylboronic acids

Abstract

A facile acid-promoted protodeboronation of arylboronic acids in the absence of metal catalysts or any other additives is described. This protodeboronation is general for a range of arylboronic acids with both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups in good to excellent yields under air atmosphere. Density functional theory mechanistic studies showed that the protodeboronation of arylboronic acids followed an intermolecular metathesis via a four-membered ring transition state. The effect of the substituent of arylboronic acids in protodeboronation is also theoretically studied.