Abstract: Esters or carboxylic acids are prepared from olefins containing at least two carbon atoms by reacting the olefin with carbon monoxide in the presence of:(i) a first complex of a selected Lewis acid with the ester or carboxylic acid, whichever is the reaction product recovered;(ii) a second complex of the Lewis acid with an alcohol, if an ester is being prepared, or with water, if a carboxylic acid is being prepared; and(iii) a metal carbonyl compound containing a Group IB transition metal in the first oxidation state; andby recovering the reaction product(s).The preferred olefin is propylene, the preferred ester to be prepared is methylisobutyrate, the preferred metal is copper and the preferred Lewis acid is boron trifluoride.

Abstract: A process which comprises heating a stabilized solution of borane in tetrahydrofuran containing an organic sulfide and finely divided particles of sodium fluoroborate at an elevated temperature for a period of time sufficient to convert the sodium fluoroborate particles to a form which permits them to be readily removed from the solution such as by settling, filtration or centrifugation.

Abstract: The novel borane-1,4-thioxane is synthesized by adding the calculated quantity of diborane to 1,4-thioxane. It is a stable liquid at 25.degree. C. The neat liquid is approximately 8.0 M in borane. The product, in spite of the additional oxygen atom in the ring, exhibits the desirable hydroborating and reducing action of borane-methyl sulfide. However, it possesses a major advantage over the latter in that the donor component, 1,4-thioxane, in contrast to methyl sulfide, is readily soluble in water and can be washed out of typical reaction mixtures. This greatly facilitates the synthetic applications of borane-1,4-thioxane over borane-methyl sulfide.

Abstract: Borohydride hydrogenations using agents of the formula M[RR'R"BH] wherein M is a metal and R, R', and R" are each organic groups, at least one of them being a secondary or tertiary alkyl group, are described herein. These compounds are active hydrogenating agents which are particularly useful because they permit steric control of the hydrogenation of carbonyl groups, they permit selective hydrogenation of functional groups or, where one of the R groups is optically active, they permit stereoselective hydrogenation.

Abstract: 9-Borabicyclo (3.3.1) noname (9-BBN), a relatively stable solid dialkylborane, can be used to reduce a wide variety of reducible chemical compounds, including both organic and inorganic compounds. The stability of the reagent greatly reduces the operating difficulties encountered with other dialkylboranes having similar reduction properties, which are thermally and hydrolytically unstable.

Abstract: 9-Borabicyclo (3.3.1) noname (9-BBN), a relatively stable solid dialkylborane, can be used to reduce a wide variety of reducible chemical compounds, including both organic and inorganic compounds. The stability of the reagent greatly reduces the operating difficulties encountered with other dialkylboranes having similar reduction properties, which are thermally and hydrolytically unstable.