Process for producing oxazole, imidazole, pyrrazole boryl compounds

1. A process for producing an oxazole (I), imidazole (II), or pyrazole (III) boryl compound, the process comprising:

(a) reacting an oxazole (IV), imidazole (V), or pyrazole (VI) with an HB or B—B organic compound in a reaction mixture with a non-reactive solvent at a temperature between about 0° C. and 150° C. and in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an iridium complex catalytic composition, the oxazole (IV), imidazole (V), or pyrazole (VI) having a structure according to formula IV, V, or VI, respectively:

wherein:

(i) R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, boryl, halo, cyano, alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl, amino alkyl, acyl, alkyl aminoacyl, trifluoro alkyl, aryl, alkyl silyl, and containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms except for the halo group and boryl group,

(ii) R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, isopropyl, triisopropylsilyl, phenyl, benzyl, para-methoxybenzyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, (benzyloxy)carbonyl, N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl, N,N-dimethylcarboxamide, para-toluenesulfonyl, and 9H-Fluoren-9-ylmethyloxycarbonyl; and

(iii) the iridium complex catalytic composition comprises an iridium complex of the formula: (BY) n -lr-(ligand) m , where n is equal to one to five, m is equal to one to three, excluding hydrogen, bonded to the iridium, BY is a boron moiety, the ligand is selected from the group consisting of a phosphorus organic ligand, an organic amine, an imine, a nitrogen heterocycle, and an ether, and the ligand is at least in part bonded to the iridium;

(b) forming the oxazole (I), imidazole (II), or pyrazole (III) boryl compound in the reaction mixture, the oxazole (I), imidazole (II), or pyrazole (III) boryl compound having a structure according to formula I, II, or III, respectively:

wherein:

(i) R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, boryl, halo, cyano, alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl, amino alkyl, acyl, alkyl aminoacyl, trifluoro alkyl, aryl, alkyl silyl, and containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms except for the halo group and boryl group,

(ii) R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, isopropyl, triisopropylsilyl, phenyl, benzyl, para-methoxybenzyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, (benzyloxy)carbonyl, N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl, N,N-dimethylcarboxamide, para-toluenesulfonyl, and 9H-Fluoren-9-ylmethyloxycarbonyl; and

(c) evaporating the solvent and portions of the reaction mixture which are volatile from the reaction mixture to produce the oxazole (I), imidazole (II), or pyrazole (III) boryl compound.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the iridium complex catalytic composition is formed in the reaction mixture from an iridium complex of [Ir(OMe)(COD)] 2 , [Ir(Cl)(COD)] 2 , or (COD)(η 5 -indenyl)Ir, where COD is 1 ,5-cyclooctadine, complexed with a ligand selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, branched alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbons, and a carbon in a cyclic structure, Y is a carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur containing moiety, and G is a heteroatom containing group, multiple atom chain, or multiple atom ring.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the iridium complex catalytic composition is formed in the reaction mixture from an iridium complex of [Ir(OMe)(COD)] 2 , [Ir(Cl)(COD)] 2 , or (COD)(η 5 -indenyl)Ir, where COD is 1,5-cyclooctadine, complexed with a ligand selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, branched alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbons, and a carbon in a cyclic structure.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the iridium complex catalytic composition is formed in the reaction mixture from an iridium complex of [Ir(OMe)(COD)] 2 , [Ir(Cl)(COD)] 2 , or (COD)(η 5 -indenyl)Ir, where COD is 1,5-cyclooctadine, complexed with a ligand selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, linear alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, branched alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbons, and a carbon in a cyclic structure, Y is a carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur containing moiety, and Z is a carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or boron containing moiety or a multiple atom chain containing a carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or boron containing moiety.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the iridium complex catalytic composition is formed in the reaction mixture from an iridium complex of [Ir(OMe)(COD)] 2 , [Ir(Cl)(COD)] 2 , or (COD)(η 5 -indenyl)Ir, where COD is 1,5-cyclooctadine, complexed with a ligand selected from the group consisting of:

wherein R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, aryl, linear alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms, branched alkyl containing 1 to 8 carbons, alkoxy, or a carbon in a cyclic structure and Z is a carbon, oxygen, or nitrogen containing moiety or a multiple atom chain containing a carbon, oxygen, or nitrogen containing moiety.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the iridium complex catalytic composition is formed in the reaction mixture from an iridium complex of [Ir(OMe)(COD)] 2 , [Ir(Cl)(COD)] 2 , or (COD)(η 5 -indenyl)Ir, where COD is 1,5-cyclooctadine, complexed with 4,4-di-t-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dtbpy).

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the iridium complex catalytic composition is formed in the reaction mixture from an iridium complex of [Ir(OMe)(COD)] 2 , [Ir(Cl)(COD)] 2 , or (COD)(η 5 -indenyl)Ir, where COD is 1,5-cyclooctadine, complexed with 1,2-bis(dimethylphospino)ethane.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the non-reactive solvent is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic hydrocarbons, ethers, and combinations thereof.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein:

(i) the reaction mixture comprises the oxazole (IV) prior to reaction; and

(ii) the boryl compound formed in the reaction mixture comprises the oxazole (I) boryl compound.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein:

(i) the reaction mixture comprises the imidazole (V) prior to reaction; and

(ii) the boryl compound formed in the reaction mixture comprises the imidazole (II) boryl compound.

11. The process of claim 1 wherein:

(i) the reaction mixture comprises the pyrazole (VI) prior to reaction;

(ii) the boryl compound formed in the reaction mixture comprises the pyrazole (III) boryl compound;

(iii) R 1 at the 3-position and R 1 at the 4-position of the pyrazole (VI) and the pyrazole (III) boryl compound together are not hydrogen and hydrogen, respectively; and

(iv) R 1 at the 3-position and R 1 at the 4-position of the pyrazole (VI) and the pyrazole (III) boryl compound together are not alkyl and hydrogen, respectively.

12. An oxazole (I), imidazole (II), or pyrazole (III) boryl compound having a structure according to formula I, II, or III, respectively:

wherein:

(i) R 1 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, boryl, halo, cyano, alkyl, alkoxy, thioalkyl, amino alkyl, acyl, alkyl aminoacyl, trifluoro alkyl, aryl, alkyl silyl, and containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms except for the halo group and boryl group,

(ii) R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, isopropyl, triisopropylsilyl, phenyl, benzyl, para-methoxybenzyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl, (benzyloxy)carbonyl, N,N-dimethylaminosulfonyl, N,N-dimethylcarboxamide, para-toluenesulfonyl, and 9H-Fluoren-9-ylmethyloxycarbonyl, and

(iii) BY is a boron moiety derived from an HB or B—B organic compound;

(iv) R 1 at the 2-position and R 1 at the 4-position of the oxazole (I) boryl compound together are not hydrogen and hydrogen, respectively;

(v) R 1 at the 2-position and R 1 at the 4-position of the imidazole (II) boryl compound together are not alkyl and hydrogen, respectively;

(vi) R 1 at the 3-position and R 1 at the 4-position of the pyrazole (III) boryl compound together are not hydrogen and hydrogen, respectively; and

(vii) R 1 at the 3-position and R 1 at the 4-position of the pyrazole (III) boryl compound together are not alkyl and hydrogen, respectively.

13. The compound of claim 12 wherein at least one R 1 substituent is a halo group.

14. The compound of claim 12 wherein at least one R 1 substituent is an aryl group.

15. The compound of claim 12 comprising the oxazole (I) boryl compound.

16. The compound of claim 12 , comprising an oxazole (I) boryl compound selected from the group consisting of:

and combinations thereof.

17. The compound of claim 12 , comprising the imidazole (II) boryl compound.

18. The compound of claim 12 , comprising an imidazole (II) boryl compound selected from the group consisting of:

and combinations thereof.

19. The compound of claim 12 , comprising the pyrazole (III) boryl compound.

20. The compound of claim 12 , comprising a pyrazole (III) boryl compound selected from the group consisting of:

and combinations thereof.