Who first reported the hydroboration–oxidation reaction in the late 1950s?
2026
Who first reported the hydroboration–oxidation reaction in the late 1950s?
Answer: A. Herbert Charles Brown — ConceptHydroboration–oxidation is a two-stage method that converts an alkene into an alcohol. Hydroboration adds a B–H bond across the carbon–carbon double…
- A.
Herbert Charles Brown
- B.
Stephanie Louise Kwolek
- C.
George Charles de Hevesy
- D.
Hermann Emil Louis Fischer
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Correct answer: A
Concept
Hydroboration–oxidation is a two-stage method that converts an alkene into an alcohol.
Hydroboration adds a B–H bond across the carbon–carbon double bond; oxidation with alkaline hydrogen peroxide then replaces the carbon–boron bond with a carbon–oxygen bond, normally giving anti-Markovnikov regiochemistry.
Application
The reaction grew out of Herbert C. Brown's research on boranes and organoboranes in the 1950s. Brown and his coworkers established hydroboration as a practical synthetic reaction, so the late-1950s report is credited to Herbert Charles Brown.
Contrast
Stephanie Louise Kwolek is associated with polymer chemistry and the development of Kevlar.
George Charles de Hevesy is associated with radiochemical tracer methods.
Hermann Emil Louis Fischer is associated with research on sugars and purines.
Therefore, the answer is Herbert Charles Brown.