REACTION OF THEXYLALKOXYBORANES WITH SELECTED ORGANIC-COMPOUNDS CONTAINING REPRESENTATIVE FUNCTIONAL-GROUPS COMPARISON OF REDUCING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ALKOXY DERIVATIVES

The reaction of alcohol with a solution of thexylborane (ThxBH(2)) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) provides a new class of mild and selective reduc ing agents, thexylalkoxyboranes (ThxBHOR: R=Et, i-Pr, i-Bu, s-Bu, t-Bu , Ph). In order to elucidate the effect of the alkoxy group in reducti on reactions, the reducing power of ThxBHOR toward selected organic co mpounds containing representative functional groups under practical co nditions (THF, 25 degrees, the quantitative amount of reagent to compo und) has been investigated. Generally, the reactivity of ThxBHOR is la rgely dependent upon the alkoxy substituent. ThxBHOR can be synthesize d from a variety of alcohols, thus allowing control of the steric and electronic environment of these reagents.