Borylation using group IV metallocene under mild conditions

A borylation reaction of aromatic diazonium salts has been optimized using titanocene and zirconocene derivatives as catalysts. The reaction employs diisopropylaminoborane as a borylating agent and proceeds smoothly at room temperature to provide arylboronates after methanolysis and transesterification with pinacol. The reaction mechanism has been found to proceed via a radical pathway. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.