A sterically encumbered aminoborane sensor is introduced and used for quantitative stereochemical analysis of monoalcohols, diols and amino alcohols. The small-molecule probe exhibits a rigid ortho-substituted arene scaffold with a proximate boron binding site and a triarylamine circular dichroism (CD) reporter unit which proved to be crucial for the observed chiroptical signal induction. Coordination of the chiral target molecule produces strong Cotton effects and UV changes that are readily correlated to its absolute configuration, enantiomeric composition and concentration to achieve comprehensive stereochemical analysis within a 5 % absolute error margin. The sensing method was successfully applied in the chromatography-free analysis of less than one milligram of a crude asymmetric reaction mixture and the advantages of this chiroptical sensing approach, which is amenable to high-throughput experimentation equipment and automation, over traditional methods is discussed.
Keywords: CD induction; aminoboranes; asymmetric reaction screening; dynamic covalent chemistry; optical sensing.
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