A new aldehyde synthesis has been developed, based on the reaction of organoboranes with diazoacetaldehyde.Canadian Journal of Chemistry, 48, 868 (1970) Previous publications have described syntheses ized and homologated. We have expanded this of ketones (I), nitriles (2), esters (2), and diketones versatile method to include a new, mild aldehyde (3), in which olefins, via their organoborane synthesis which permits a 2-carbon-atom extenderivatives, have been simultaneously functional-sion (ethanaiation) of olefins by the reaction of Can. J. Chem. Downloaded from www.nrcresearchpress.com by 54.201.150.21 on 05/10/18For personal use only. This process conveniently augments the repertory of organoborane-based aldehyde syntheses, which to date have been limited to 1-(4) and 3-carbon-atom (5) chain-lengthening reactions.Some typical examples are summarized in Table 1. The reactions of organoboranes derived from 1-alkenes as well as cyclopentene proceed in good yield (77-98 %); yields are lower, however, for sterically-hindered trialkylboranes. Triarylboranes also react successfully, as exemplified by the conversion of triphenylborane to phenylacetaldehyde (76 %).Although the hydroboration of monosubstituted terminal olefins produces approximately 94 % primary and 6 % secondary alkyl groups (6), the product from reaction of the trialkylborane derived from I-butene was hexanal; no evidence (gas-liquid phase chromatography (g.1.p.c.)) for the formation of 3-methylpentanal was observed. Since a similar migrational preference of primary over secondary alkyl groups has also been noted in the organoborane-diazoacetic ester reaction (2), these developments permit the synthesis of functional derivatives free of isomeric contaminants. By way of contrast, the 3-carbon aldehyde homologation, involving reaction of trialkylboranes with acrolein (5), gives products derived from preferential migration of the secondary alkyl groups in the organoborane. ' Functional diazo substrates react with organoboranes to produce intermediates which undergo hydrolysis with extreme ease (2). The g.1.p.c. analysis of a crude tributylborane-diazoacetaldehyde reaction mixture after complete consumption of diazo compound, but prior to the addition of water, revealed the presence of some hexanal. The infrared (i.r.) spectrum exhibited absorption at 1730 (aldehyde carbonyl) and 1670 cm-' (en01 ether ?); the latter disappeared at the 'A limitation of the R3B-diazo reaction at present, a difficulty also encountered in the propanalation process, is that but one alkyl moiety is utilized. Although B-alkyl-9-borabicyclo [3.3.1 Inonane (B-R-9-BBN) derivatives have recently been very effectively employed to circumvent this difficulty in the carbonylation reaction and the alkylation of x-halocarbanions (7), diazo substrates react with B-R-9-BBN derivatives with preferential B-cyclooctyl bond migration (8, 9).However, B-R-9-BBN derivatives fail to react with acrolein. expense of the former after addition of water. This observation is highly reminiscent of th...