Umpolung of protons from H2O: a metal-free chemoselective reduction of carbonyl compounds via B2pin2/H2O systems

Abstract

H₂O is routinely described as a proton donor, however, in the presence of diboron compounds, the umpolung reaction of H₂O under metal-free conditions was successfully developed, which could afford hydride species, leading to a highly efficient and chemoselective reduction of CO bonds. This strategy exhibits excellent chemoselectivities toward carbonyl groups in the presence of ester, olefin, halogen, thioether, sulfonyl, cyano as well as heteroaromatic groups.