Shedding light on the NN bond: unlocking rapid, catalyst-free direct hydroboration of azoarenes

Abstract

We report the first catalyst-free, photomediated direct hydroboration of azoarenes using 9-BBN and 365 nm light-irradiation. This operationally simple protocol provides quantitative access to diverse N-borylated hydrazines with high atom economy in a very short duration. Experimental and computational studies validate a stepwise mechanism for this sustainable B–N bond-forming methodology.