We recently reported that tetrahydroxydiborane, (OH)2B–B(OH)2, can mediate transition metal-catalyzed H atom transfer in the presence of water, leading to the reduction of a variety of common organic functional groups. This reaction is well suited for undergraduate instructional laboratories because it proceeds at ambient temperature, can be performed in water, avoids H2 gas, and generates no organic waste. In addition to integrating numerous synthetic and mechanistic concepts, techniques, and analytical methods, students learn about safety and career awareness through comparison of this method to industrial hydrogenation methods. Students gain appreciation for undergraduate research through assigned reading of the primary research article, which features two undergraduate coauthors.

Development of a diboron(4)-mediated transition metal-catalyzed alkene transfer hydrogenation reaction for undergraduate instructional organic chemistry laboratories

2019 Fall National Meeting

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