Boron trifluoride etherate in organic synthesis

Abstract

The innumerable applications of boron trifluoride etherate of boron trifluoride etherate in organic synthesi1,2 encouraged us to write a micro review on this reagent. The commercially available boron trifluoride etherate (b.p. 126oC), a brown liquid, is very toxic by inhalation, causes severe burns, reacts violently with water, hot alkali or alkaline earth (not Mg) metals with incandescence. It can be purified by distillation. This review would discuss only four principal use of boron trifluoride etherate: (a) hydroboration–oxidation reaction, (b) cleavage and rearrangement of epoxides, (c) esterification (d) cyclization. In addition, some other minor uses of boron trifluoride etherate will be briefly described.