Boric acid: A Mild and Efficient Green Catalyst for Organic Transformations

The acid catalyzed reaction is one of the most important reactions in organic chemistry. Most acid catalyzed reactions have been studied in the presence of strong acids such as H2SO4, HNO3, HCl, BF3.O(Et)2, TFA, and methanesulfonic acid etc. in various organic solvents. The use of excessive and even stoichiometric amounts of acids with organic solvents raises environmental concerns. To avoid the use of corrosive acids and to reduce the environmental impact, the development of a new method for organic synthesis catalyzed by boric acid would be highly desirable. The benefits and uses of boric acid-catalyzed reactions were covered in this communication.