Photoinduced Decarboxylative Borylation of N-Hydroxyphthalimide Esters with Hypoboric Acid

We developed a visible-light-driven photochemical transformation in which activated primary, secondary, and tertiary alkylcarboxylic acids were converted into the corresponding boronic esters in the absence of catechol and any added photocatalyst. The procedure relies on the utilization of hypoboric acid and redox-active esters of alkylcarboxylic acids to ensure a simple and economic procedure. Quantum chemical calculations and mechanistic considerations provide deeper insights into the mechanism of photochemical borylation reactions.