The traditional transition metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction, although well suited for C(sp2)-C(sp2) cross-coupling, has proven less amenable toward coupling of C(sp3)-hybridized centers, particularly using functional group tolerant reagents and reaction conditions. The development of photoredox/Ni dual catalytic methods for cross-coupling has opened new vistas for the construction of carbon-carbon bonds at C(sp3)-hybridized centers. In this chapter, a general outline of the features of such processes is detailed.

A general, mild, and efficient method for the hydrolysis of organotrifluoroborates to unveil organoboronic acids using silica gel and H 2 O was developed. This method proved to be tolerant of a broad range of aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkenyl-, and alkyltrifluoroborates as well as structurally diverse aminomethylated organotrifluoroborates. As anticipated, electron-rich substrates provided the corresponding boronic acids more readily than electron-poor substrates, owing to the resonance stabilized difluoroborane intermediate. The method developed was expanded further for the conversion of organotrifluoroborates to the corresponding boronate esters.

Arylboronic acids are gaining increased importance as reagents and target structures in a variety of useful applications. Recently, the palladium-catalyzed synthesis of arylboronic acids employing the atom economical tetrahydroxydiboron (BBA) reagent has been reported. The high cost associated with palladium, combined with several limitations of both palladium and copper-catalyzed processes, prompted us to develop an alternative method. Thus, the nickel-catalyzed borylation of aryl and heteroaryl halides and pseudo-halides using tetrahydroxydiboron (BBA) has been formulated. The reaction proved to be widely functional group tolerant and applicable to a number of heterocyclic systems. To the best of our knowledge, the examples presented here represent the only effective Ni-catalyzed Miyaura borylations conducted at room temperature.

A method for the oxidation of organotrifluoroborates using Oxone ® was developed. A variety of aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkenyl-, and alkyltrifluoroborates were converted into the corresponding oxidized products in excellent yields. This method proved to be tolerant of a broad range of functional groups, and in secondary alkyl substrates it was demonstrated to be completely stereospecific.

Organotrifluoroborates have emerged as an alternative to toxic and air- and moisture sensitive organometallic species for the synthesis of functionalized aryl and heteroaryl compounds. It has been shown that the trifluoroborate moiety can be easily converted into a variety of different substituents in a late synthetic stage. In this paper we disclose a mild, selective, and convenient method for the ipso-nitrosation of organotrifluoroborates using nitrosonium tetrafluoroborate (NOBF4). Aryl- and heteroaryltrifluoroborates were converted into the corresponding nitroso products in good to excellent yields. This method proved to be tolerant of a broad range of functional groups.

A mild and metal-free method for the chlorodeboronation of organotrifluoroborates using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCICA) was developed. Aryl-, heteroaryl-, alkenyl-, alkynyl- and alkyltrifluoroborates were converted into the corresponding chlorinated products in good yields. This method proved to be tolerant of a broad range of functional groups.

A new method for the electrophilic α-alkynylation of ketones was developed using hypervalent iodine under mild and metal-free conditions. Carbonyl compounds containing an α-acetylene group were obtained in good to excellent yields for several ketones using 1-[(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl]-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one (TMS-EBX) as an alkynylation agent in the presence of t-BuOK and TBAF in THF as solvent. Under the same conditions, an aldehyde was alkynylated.

Isoxazolidines have proven to be important substrates in synthetic organic chemistry. Limited examples in the literature that provide trifluoromethylated versions of these compounds have prompted us to investigate a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition route providing access to N-functionalized isoxazolidines containing a trifluoromethyl group. Thus, a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrosoarenes, (trifluoromethyl)diazomethane, and alkenes was developed. The starting materials can be synthesized from easy to handle and accessible reagents. The reaction proved to be tolerant of a variety of electron-deficient alkenes and nitrosoarenes.