Direct Boron-10 Access: Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive C(sp2)─10B Coupling Utilizing 10BF3.

Abstract

The boron-10 isotope (10B) is critical for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT); however, the direct use of industrially available 10BF3 for synthesizing 10B-enriched compounds remains challenging due to the strong B─F bonds. Herein, we present a nickel-catalyzed reductive protocol that enables direct C(sp2)─10B bond formation using 10BF3. This approach employs AlCl3 and a Lewis base to generate electrophilic borenium ions in situ. The method eliminates the need for pre-functionalized boron reagents, providing an efficient route to diverse 10B-enriched compounds with promising applications in BNCT and neutron-shielding materials.