Suzuki-Miyaura (SM) cross-coupling is arguably the most widely-applied transition metal catalysed carbon-carbon bond forming reaction to date. Its success originates from a combination of exceptionally mild and functional group tolerant reaction conditions, with a relatively stable, readily prepared and generally environmentally benign organoboron reagent. A variety of such reagents have been developed for the process, with properties that have been tailored for application under specific SM coupling conditions. This review analyses the seven main classes of boron reagent that have been developed. The general physical and chemical properties of each class of reagent are evaluated with special emphasis on the currently understood mechanisms of transmetalation. The methods to prepare each reagent are outlined, followed by example applications in SM coupling.

pH−rate profiles for aqueous−organic protodeboronation of 18 boronic acids, many widely viewed as unstable, have been studied by NMR and DFT. Rates were pH-dependent, and varied substantially between the boronic acids, with rate maxima that varied over 6 orders of magnitude. A mechanistic model containing five general pathways (k 1 −k 5 ) has been developed, and together with input of [B] tot , K W , K a , and K aH , the protodeboronation kinetics can be correlated as a function of pH (1−13) for all 18 species. Cyclopropyl and vinyl boronic acids undergo very slow protodeboronation, as do 3-and 4-pyridyl boronic acids (t 0.5 > 1 week, pH 12, 70 °C). In contrast, 2-pyridyl and 5-thiazolyl boronic acids undergo rapid protodeboronation (t 0.5 ≈ 25−50 s, pH 7, 70 °C), via fragmentation of zwitterionic intermediates. Lewis acid additives (e.g., Cu, Zn salts) can attenuate (2-pyridyl) or accelerate (5-thiazolyl and 5-pyrazolyl) fragmentation. Two additional processes compete when the boronic acid and the boronate are present in sufficient proportions (pH = pK a ± 1.6): (i) self-/autocatalysis and (ii) sequential disproportionations of boronic acid to borinic acid and borane.

The Suzuki-Miyaura coupling is one of the few transition-metal-catalyzed C-C bond-forming reactions that have been used in applications ranging from discovery chemistry to manufacturing processes. Although coupling proceeds through the generic three-stage 'oxidative addition, transmetalation, reductive elimination' sequence, there are a number of features that differentiate the Suzuki-Miyaura process from other transition-metal-catalyzed cross-couplings. Most of these features are centered around, or are a consequence of, activation of the boron reagent for transmetalation through one or both of two distinct pathways. This review focuses on the evidence that has been presented for this 'fork in the trail', and the potential to apply such mechanistic insight to the design of reaction conditions.

Pioneering studies by Kuivila, published more than 50 years ago, suggested ipso protonation of the boronate as the mechanism for base-catalyzed protodeboronation of arylboronic acids. However, the study was limited to UV spectrophotometric analysis under acidic conditions, and the aqueous association constants (K) were estimated. By means of NMR, stopped-flow IR, and quenched-flow techniques, the kinetics of base-catalyzed protodeboronation of 30 different arylboronic acids has now been determined at pH > 13 in aqueous dioxane at 70 °C. Included in the study are all 20 isomers of CHFB(OH) with half-lives spanning 9 orders of magnitude: <3 ms to 6.5 months. In combination with pH-rate profiles, pK and ΔS values, kinetic isotope effects (H, B,C), linear free-energy relationships, and density functional theory calculations, we have identified a mechanistic regime involving unimolecular heterolysis of the boronate competing with concerted ipso protonation/C-B cleavage. The relative Lewis acidities of arylboronic acids do not correlate with their protodeboronation rates, especially when ortho substituents are present. Notably, 3,5-dinitrophenylboronic acid is orders of magnitude more stable than tetra- and pentafluorophenylboronic acids but has a similar pK.

The efficient catalytic dehydrocoupling of a range of amine-borane adducts, R'RNH x BH(3) (R' = R = Me 1a; R' = R = (i)Pr 1b; R' = Me, R = CH(2)Ph 1c) by a series of group 4 metallocene type precatalysts has been demonstrated. A reduction in catalytic activity was detected upon descending the group and also on substitution of the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligands with sterically bulky or electron-donating substituents. Precatalysts Cp(2)TiCl(2)/2(n)BuLi and Cp(2)Ti(PMe(3))(2), which are believed to act as precursors to [Cp(2)Ti], were found to promote the transformation of 1a to [Me(2)N-BH(2)](2) (3a) in a homogeneous catalytic process. Mechanistic studies identified the linear dimer Me(2)NH-BH(2)-NMe(2)-BH(3) (2a) as a reaction intermediate, which subsequently undergoes further catalytic dehydrogenation to form cyclic dimer 3a. Synthesis of the (2)H-isotopologues of 1a allowed the extraction of phenomenological kinetic isotope effects for 1a --> 2a and 2a --> 3a from initial rate data, which permitted the proposal of a catalytic cycle with plausible intermediates. Support for the presence of an active Ti(II) catalyst was provided by the lack of reactivity of Ti(III) complexes TiCl(3) and Cp(2)TiCl or Ti(0) in the form of THF soluble colloids or bulk Ti powder toward 1a or 1b. Modeling of the rates of consumption of 1a and formation of 3a during catalysis by Cp(2)Ti(PMe(3))(2) supported this conclusion and allowed the proposal of a two cycle, four step reaction mechanism. The proposed first cycle generates 2a in a two step process. In the second cycle, interaction of 2a with the same catalyst then results in a catalytic dehydrogenative ring closing reaction to form 3a, also in a two step process.

Biaryls (two directly connected aromatic rings, Ar(1)-Ar(2)) are common motifs in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and organic materials. Current methods for establishing the Ar(1)-Ar(2) bond are dominated by the cross-coupling of aryl halides (Ar(1)-X) with aryl metallics (Ar(2)-M). We report that, in the presence of 1 to 2 mole percent of a gold catalyst and a mild oxidant, a wide range of arenes (Ar(1)-H) undergo site-selective arylation by arylsilanes (Ar(2)-SiMe(3)) to generate biaryls (Ar(1)-Ar(2)), with little or no homocoupling (Ar(1)-Ar(1)/Ar(2)-Ar(2)). Catalysis proceeds at room temperature and tolerates a broad range of functional groups, including those incompatible with cross-coupling. These features expedite biaryl preparation, as demonstrated by synthesis of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory diflunisal.

The hydrolysis of potassium organotrifluoroborate (RBF(3)K) reagents to the corresponding boronic acids (RB(OH)(2)) has been studied in the context of their application in Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. The "slow release" strategy in such SM couplings is only viable if there is an appropriate gearing of the hydrolysis rate of the RBF(3)K reagent with the rate of catalytic turnover. In such cases, the boronic acid RB(OH)(2) does not substantially accumulate, thereby minimizing side reactions such as oxidative homocoupling and protodeboronation. The study reveals that the hydrolysis rates (THF, H(2)O, Cs(2)CO(3), 55 °C) depend on a number of variables, resulting in complex solvolytic profiles with some RBF(3)K reagents. For example, those based on p-F-phenyl, naphthyl, furyl, and benzyl moieties are found to require acid catalysis for efficient hydrolysis. This acid-base paradox assures their slow hydrolysis under basic Suzuki-Miyaura coupling conditions. However, partial phase-splitting of the THF/H(2)O induced by the Cs(2)CO(3), resulting in a lower pH in the bulk medium, causes the reaction vessel shape, material, size, and stirring rate to have a profound impact on the hydrolysis profile. In contrast, reagents bearing, for example, isopropyl, β-styryl, and anisyl moieties undergo efficient "direct" hydrolysis, resulting in fast release of the boronic acid while reagents bearing, for example, alkynyl or nitrophenyl moieties, hydrolyze extremely slowly. Analysis of B-F bond lengths (DFT) in the intermediate difluoroborane, or the Swain-Lupton resonance parameter (ℛ) of the R group in RBF(3)K, allows an a priori evaluation of whether an RBF(3)K reagent will likely engender "fast", "slow", or "very slow" hydrolysis. An exception to this correlation was found with vinyl-BF(3)K, this reagent being sufficiently hydrophilic to partition substantially into the predominantly aqueous minor biphase, where it is rapidly hydrolyzed.

The solution-phase structures of the monomeric forms of the cationic Pd-eta(3)-allyl and Pd-eta(3)-cyclohexenyl complexes [Pd(R,R)-1(eta(3)-C(3)H(5))](+) (7(+)) and [Pd(R,R)-1(eta(3)-C(6)H(9))](+) (8(+)) bearing the trans-cyclohexylenediamine-based Trost 'Standard Ligand' (R,R)-1 have been elucidated by NMR, isotopic labeling and computation. In both complexes, (R,R)-1 is found to adopt a C(1)-symmetric conformation, leading to a concave shape in the 13-membered chelate in which one amide group in the chiral scaffold projects its NH unit out of the concave surface in close vicinity to one allyl terminus. The adjacent amide has a reversed orientation and projects its carbonyl group out of the concave face in the vicinity of the opposite allyl terminus. Stoichiometric and catalytic asymmetric alkylations of [8(+)][X(-)] by MCHE(2) (E = ester, M = 'escort' counterion, X = Pd allyl counterion) show the same selectivities and trends as have been reported for in situ-generated catalysts, and a new model for the enantioselectivity has been explored computationally. Three factors are found to govern the regioselectivity (pro-S vs pro-R) of attack of nucleophiles on the eta(3)-C(6)H(9) ring in 8(+) and thus the ee of the alkylation product: (i) a pro-R torquoselective bias is induced by steric interaction of the eta(3)-C(6)H(9) moiety with one phenyl ring of the ligand; (ii) pro-S delivery of the nucleophile can be facilitated by hydrogen-bonding with the concave orientated amide N-H; and (iii) pro-R delivery of the nucleophile can be facilitated by escort ion (M) binding to the concave orientated amide carbonyl. The latter two opposing interactions lead to the selectivity of the alkylation being sensitive to the identities of X(-) and M(+). The generation of 8(+) from cyclohexenyl ester substrate has also been explored computationally. The concave orientated amide N-H is able to activate the leaving group of the allylic ester by hydrogen bonding to its carbonyl group. However, this interaction is only feasible for the (S)-enantiomer of substrate, leading to the prediction of a powerful kinetic resolution (k(S) >> k(R)), as is found experimentally. This new model involving two regiochemically distinct (NH) and (CO) locations for nucleofuge or nucleophile binding, may prove of broad utility for the interpretation of the selectivity in asymmetric allylic alkylation reactions catalyzed by Pd complexes of (R,R)-1 and related ligands.