Accessing 2-(hetero)arylmethyl-, -allyl-, and -propargyl-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes: palladium-catalyzed cross-couplings of 2-(chloromethyl)-2,1-borazaronaphthalenes.

The synthesis of 2-(chloromethyl)-2,1-borazaronaphthalene has provided an opportunity to expand dramatically the functionalization of the azaborines. This azaborinyl building block can serve as the electrophile in palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions to form sp(3)-sp and sp(3)-sp(2) bonds. The cross-coupling reactions of 2-(chloromethyl)-2,1-borazaronaphthalene with potassium (hetero)aryl- and alkenyltrifluoroborates as well as terminal alkynes provides access to a variety of novel azaborines, allowing a library of pseudobenzylic substituted azaborines to be prepared from one common starting material.