Copper-Catalysed Aminoboration of Vinylarenes with Hydroxylamine Esters-A Computational Mechanistic Study.

An in-depth computational probe of the copper-mediated formal aminoboration of β-alkylstyrenes with bis(pinacolato)diboron B2 pin2 and an archetype hydroxylamine ester by a dppbz-ligated {P^P}CuI boryl catalyst (dppbz≡{P^P}≡1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)benzene) is presented. This first comprehensive computational study of the copper-mediated formal aminoboration utilising an electrophilic strategy has identified the most accessible pathway for productive catalysis. The mechanistic picture derived from smooth energy profiles acquired by employing a reliable computational protocol applied to a realistic catalyst model conforms to all available experimental data. The high degree of regio- and stereoselectivity achieved in syn-borylcupration and Umpolung electrophilic amination is instrumental to the exclusive generation of the (syn)-β-aminoalkylborane product. On the one hand, syn-borylcupration furnishes exclusively β-borylalkylcopper nucleophile upon boryl addition onto the vinylarene β-carbon. Its subsequent approach by the hydroxylamine electrophile to deliver the product with the release of {P^P}CuI benzoate favours a stepwise stereoretentive SN 2-type oxidative addition/N-C bond-forming reductive elimination sequence. The copper benzoate species represents the catalyst resting state, and its transformation into the catalytically active borylcopper species upon salt metathesis with Li(OtBu) base and transmetallation with B2 pin2 is turnover limiting. Electronically modified β-alkylstyrenes featuring a para-CF3 substituted phenyl ring render the borylcupration faster, and more electron-rich hydroxylamine agents decelerate the electrophilic amination.