Boric Ester and Thiourea as Coupling Partners in a Copper-Mediated Oxidative Dehydrosulfurative Carbon-Oxygen Cross-Coupling Reaction.

A copper-mediated oxidative dehydrosulfurative carbon-oxygen cross-coupling reaction with boric ester and six-membered cyclic thiourea for single-step production of densely substituted 2-alkoxypyrimidines incorporated in a privileged scaffold is described. This is the first demonstration of boric ester acting as an alkoxy donor in a metal-catalyzed coupling reaction to produce ether. The reaction method offers a shortcut for producing 2-alkoxypyrimidine derivatives with rapid diversification and expands the utility of boric ester and the scope of Liebeskind-Srogl-type reactions.