Iridium-Catalyzed Selective B(4)-H Acylmethylation of o-Carboranes with Sulfoxonium Ylides

Org Lett. 2022 Feb 18;24(6):1318-1322. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.1c04335. Epub 2022 Feb 7.

Abstract

A highly efficient Ir-catalyzed regioselective cage B(4)-H acylmethylation of o-carboranyl acids using sulfoxonium ylides as alkylating regents has been developed, leading to the preparation of a large class of B(4)-acylmethylated o-carboranes in good to excellent yields with a broad substrate scope under redox neutral conditions. The -COOH moiety serves as the traceless directing group and controls the regioselectivity and monoselectivity.