Studies of BN-Isosteres of Carbocyclic Systems

Abstract

The first three chapters of this dissertation elaborate on certain facets of the isosteric relationship between different types of boron-nitrogen-containing heterocycles and the corresponding all-carbon compounds. In this vein, Chapter 1 describes selective photoisomerization of aromatic 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborines to BN-analogues of bicyclo[2.2.0]hexa-2,5-diene (Dewar benzene). In one instance, the photoisomer product was further derivatized into a series of disubstituted cyclobutanes through manipulations of the boron functionality. Chapter 2 discloses a combined experimental/theoretical mechanistic investigation of preliminary hydrogen release from the amine borane unit in a pair of BN-cycloalkanes. In Chapter 3, the kinetics of complementary dehydrogenation of the alkyl units in a BN-cyclohexene derivative are compared with those of related six-membered carbocycles. Chapter 4 treats with the separate subject of enantioselective silylation of glycerol by a catalytic strategy centered around reversible covalent binding of substrate hydroxyl groups.