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Chemicals >> Reducing Agents

Tetrahydroxydiboron, Bis-Boric Acid, BBA, B2(OH)4

Tetrahydroxydiboron is a reducing agent, that for example slowly produces hydrogen gas in water.

See also: Bis(pinacolato)diboron, Bis(neopentylglycolato)diboron

Recent Literature


A rhodium-catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of functionalized arenes in the presence of tetrahydroxydiboron offers good functional group tolerance, operational simplicity and controllable chemoselectivity. The general applicability of this procedure is demonstrated by the selective hydrogenation of a range of arenes, including functionalized benzenes, biphenyls, and polyaromatics.
Y. Wang, Z. Chang, Y. Hu, X. Lin, X. Dou, Org. Lett., 2021, 23, 1910-1914.


A metal-free reduction of nitro aromatics is mediated by tetrahydroxydiboron under mild conditions in water as solvent to provide various aromatic amines with good functional group tolerance and in good yields.
D. Chen, Y. Zhou, H. Zhou, S. Liu, Q. Liu, K. Zhang, Y. Uozumi, Synthesis, 2018, 50, 1765-1768.


The use of tetrahydroxydiboron as reductant and 4,4′-bipyridine as organocatalyst enables a metal-free and highly chemoselective reduction of aromatic nitro compounds within 5 min at room temperature. Under optimal conditions, sensitive functional groups, such as vinyl, ethynyl, carbonyl, and halogen were tolerated.
M. Jang, T. Lim, B. Y. Park, M. S. Han, J. Org. Chem., 2022, 87, 910-919.


An effient tandem process consisting of palladium-catalyzed double-bond isomerization of long-chain olefins followed by intramolecular cyclization promoted by B2(OH)2 provides benzo-fused oxazaheterocycles. This strategy also provides rapid access to pyrido[3,4-b]indoles, trans-2-olefins, and enamides with high regio- and stereoselectivity.
L. Ding, Y.-N. Niu, X.-F. Xia, J. Org. Chem., 2021, 86, 10032-10042.


A copper-catalyzed one-pot reaction of 2-nitrobenzonitriles and various carbonyl compounds in the presence of diboronic acid as a reductant provides 2,3-dihydroquinazolin-4(1H)-ones with good functional-group tolerance in good yields under mild conditions.
Q. Liu, Y. Sui, Y. Zhang, K. Zhang, Y. Chen, H. Zhou, Synlett, 2020, 31, 275-279.