Borane evolution and its application to organic synthesis using the phase-vanishing method

Although borane is a useful reagent, it is difficult to handle. In this study, borane was generated in situ from NaBH4 or nBu4NBH4 with several oxidants using a phase-vanishing (PV) method. The borane generated was directly reacted with alkenes, affording the desired alcohols in good yields after oxidation with H2O2 under basic conditions. The selective reduction of carboxylic acids with the evolved borane was examined. The organoboranes generated by the PV method successfully underwent Suzuki–Miyaura coupling. Using this PV system, reactions with borane can be carried out easily and safely in a common test tube.