Alpine borane

Alpine borane is the commercial name for an organoboron compound that is used in organic synthesis. It is a colorless liquid, although it is usually encountered as a solution. A range of alkyl-substituted borane are specialty reagents in organic synthesis. Two such reagents that are closely related to Alpine borane are 9-BBN and diisopinocampheylborane.

Alpine borane^[1]

Names
IUPAC name 9-(2,6,6-Trimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]hept-3-yl)-9-bora-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane
Other names Alpine-Borane; B-Isopinocampheyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane; B-3-Pinanyl-9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane
Identifiers
CAS Number	73624-47-2 (R isomer) Y 42371-63-1 (S isomer) Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	17206399 Y
ECHA InfoCard	100.157.575
PubChem CID	9921373 R 10890567 S
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID50432857
InChI InChI=1S/C18H31B/c1-12-16-10-13(18(16,2)3)11-17(12)19-14-6-4-7-15(19)9-5-8-14/h12-17H,4-11H2,1-3H3/t12-,13-,14?,15?,16+,17-/m1/s1 Y Key: VCDGSBJCRYTLNU-AZWGFFAPSA-N Y InChI=1/C18H31B/c1-12-16-10-13(18(16,2)3)11-17(12)19-14-6-4-7-15(19)9-5-8-14/h12-17H,4-11H2,1-3H3/t12-,13-,14?,15?,16+,17-/m1/s1 Key: VCDGSBJCRYTLNU-AZWGFFAPBY
SMILES CC4(C)[C@@H]1C[C@H]4[C@@H](C)[C@@H](C1)B3C2CCCC3CCC2
Properties
Chemical formula	C18H31B
Molar mass	258.26 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colorless liquid
Density	0.947 g/mL
Boiling point	> 55 °C (131 °F; 328 K)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H250
Precautionary statements	P210, P222, P280, P302+P334, P370+P378, P422
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Preparation and reactions

This reagent is generated by treating 9-BBN with α-pinene.^[2]

This sterically crowded chiral trialkylborane can stereoselectively reduce aldehydes in what is known as the Midland Alpine borane reduction, or simply the Midland reduction.^[3]

C₈H₁₂B-pinanyl + RCDO → C₈H₁₂BOCHDR + (+)-d-pinene

Hydrolysis of the resulting borinic ester affords the alcohol:

C₈H₁₂BOCHDR + H₂O → C₈H₁₂BOH + HOCHDR

It is also effective for the stereoselective reduction of certain acetylenic ketones.^[4] The reaction is proposed to involve formation of an adduct by coordination of the carbonyl oxygen to boron. Intramolecular hydride transfer from the pinane substituent to the carbonyl carbon ensues. Many substrates for the Midland reduction have a low steric group such as an alkyne^[5] or a nitrile^[6] so as to increase selectivity. Stereochemical control comes from coordination of the carbonyl bulky borane, followed by hydride transfer opposite the largest group.^[2][7]

See also

• Chemistry portal

• Corey-Itsuno reduction
• Asymmetric hydrogenation