Tin-free Giese reaction and the related radical carbonylation using alkyl iodides and cyanoborohydrides.

Tin-free Giese reaction and the related radical carbonylation process proceeded efficiently in the presence of sodium cyanoborohydride and tetrabutylammonium cyanoborohydride. The reaction took place chemoselectively at the carbon-iodine bond but not at the carbon-bromine and carbon-chlorine bonds. The iodine atom transfer followed by hydride reduction of the resulting carbon-iodine bond is proposed as a possible mechanism.