Brian V. Popp

A unique class of β-boron-functionalized non-steroidal anti-inflammatory compound (pinB-NSAID) was previously synthesized via copper-catalyzed 1,2-difunctionalization of the respective vinyl arene with CO2 and B2pin2 reagents. Here, pinacolylboron-functionalized ibuprofen (pinB-ibuprofen) was used as a model substrate to develop the conditions for pinacol deprotection and subsequent boron functionalization. Initial pinacol-boronic ester deprotection was achieved by transesterification with diethanolamine (DEA) from the boralactonate organic salt. The resulting DEA boronate adopts a spirocyclic boralactonate structure rather than a diazaborocane–DABO boronate structure. The subsequent acid-mediated hydrolysis of DEA and transesterification/transamination provided a diverse scope of new boron-containing ibuprofen derivatives.