When organic chemists think about suitable boron groups for cross-coupling, the answer is usually «boronic acids and boronates». The chemistry for the preparation and use of these compounds has been around for a while, it is well known and versatile also. But boron chemistry can be expanded and improved with the use of potassium organotrifluoroborates, compounds able to overcome some of the limitations of the electrophilic boron atom and that can be used in transition metal-catalyzed reactions to introduce a wide range of R groups (alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, allyl, etc.). We have selected as review of this month «Potassium Organotrifluoroborates: New Perspectives in Organic Synthesis» by Darses and Genet (Chem. Rev. 2008; 108(1) pp 288–325). This review covers the preparation, properties, and reactions of organotrifluoroborates.


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