Single-atom editing for the construction of boron-containing heterocycles

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a significant surge in research on boron-containing pharmaceuticals, with particular emphasis on their anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, as well as their potential to inhibit tumor growth. The advent of single-atom editing technology, which facilitates rapid modifications to complex molecules, has markedly enhanced the efficiency and speed of pharmaceutical compound synthesis. This review aims to compile and evaluate the extant literature on the synthesis of boron heterocycles employing single-atom editing methodologies. The synthesis of these compounds predominantly entails the addition of atoms to pre-existing boron-containing heterocycles or the insertion of boron atoms into alternative heterocyclic frameworks. Although examples of such reactions are relatively scant and the research has yet to be fully systematized, presenting a somewhat fragmented appearance, the extant body of reactions is sufficiently robust to underscore the importance of these boron insertion processes, thereby attracting greater attention to this field and stimulating the interest of researchers.