Two different approaches for the deoxygenative radical borylation of secondary and tertiary alcohols are presented. These transformations either proceed through a metal‐free silyl‐radical‐mediated pathway or utilize visible‐light photoredox catalysis. Readily available xanthates or methyl oxalates are used as radical precursors. The reactions show broad substrate scope and high functional‐group tolerance, and are conducted under mild and practical conditions.

Efficient radical routes to important alkyl and aryl boronic esters have been developed over the past few years. Such reactions are complementary to existing transition-metal catalysed cross coupling processes.

Scheme 3. Radical-induced 1,2-migrations of vinyl boron ate complexes:s ynthesis of functionalized secondarya nd tertiary alkyl boronic esters. Scheme 7. Radical-induced three-component coupling of heteroarenes with boronic esters. Scheme 6. Radical-polar crossover reaction of dienyl boron ate complexes.

Site selective chemical functionalization at unactivated C(sp3)−H bonds is highly challenging and recent successful studies mostly focus on the use of transition metal catalysis in combination with directing groups. Radical chemistry offers a complementary approach with the Barton and the Hofmann-Löffler-Freytag reactions being landmark contributions in the area of remote C−H functionalization at unactivated aliphatic sites. Herein we introduce the concept of radical translocation arylation at unactivated secondary and tertiary C(sp3)−H bonds in various alcohols. The straightforward two-step sequence comprises an ionic alcohol sulfonylation with especially designed ortho-iodoaryl sulfonyl chlorides followed by a radical cascade reaction including aryl radical generation, remote radical translocation, aryl migration, reduction, and SO2 extrusion to give the corresponding γ-arylated alcohols. Moderate to good yields are obtained, remote C−H arylation occurs with excellent regioselectivity and for secondary C(sp3)−H bonds good to excellent stereoselectivity is achieved.

Recently, esters have received much attention as transmetalation partners for cross-coupling reactions. Herein, we report a systematic study of the reactivity of a series of esters and thioesters with [{(dtbpe)Ni}2(μ-η(2):η(2)-C6H6)] (dtbpe=1,2-bis(di-tert-butyl)phosphinoethane), which is a source of (dtbpe)nickel(0). Trifluoromethylthioesters were found to form η(2)-carbonyl complexes. In contrast, acetylthioesters underwent rapid Cacyl-S bond cleavage followed by decarbonylation to generate methylnickel complexes. This decarbonylation could be pushed backwards by the addition of CO, allowing for regeneration of the thioester. Most of the thioester complexes were found to undergo stoichiometric cross-coupling with phenylboronic acid to yield sulfides. While ethyl trifluoroacetate was also found to form an η(2)-carbonyl complex, phenyl esters were found to predominantly undergo Caryl-O bond cleavage to yield arylnickel complexes. These could also undergo transmetalation to yield biaryls. Attempts to render the reactions catalytic were hindered by ligand scrambling to yield nickel bis(acetate) complexes, the formation of which was supported by independent syntheses. Finally, 2-naphthyl acetate was also found to undergo clean Caryl-O bond cleavage, and although stoichiometric cross-coupling with phenylboronic acid proceeded with good yield, catalytic turnover has so far proven elusive.