Mechanochemical Radical Boronation of Aryl Diazonium Salts Promoted by Sodium Chloride

Arylboronates are helpful building blocks in organic synthesis. Here, we present an efficient mechanochemical synthesis of arylboronates from arene diazonium salts. Importantly, this transformation was significantly enhanced by sodium chloride, which probably promotes the decomposition of diazonium salts via anion exchange. Chloride anions also participate in the formation of strongly reducing Cl-B anion radical intermediate that promotes radical chain reaction. The reaction proceeds more efficiently with a small amount of polar solvent as a liquid-assisted grinding additive. Quantum chemical calculations support the mechanistic proposal.