The chemical compound boronic acid is spelled /bəˈrɑːnɪk ˈæsɪd/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first syllable is pronounced with the schwa sound /ə/, followed by the stressed syllable with the open back unrounded vowel /ɑː/. The second syllable has the short vowel /ɪ/ and the final syllable has the voiced consonant cluster /k æsɪd/. This spelling represents the exact pronunciation of boronic acid in English, which is commonly used in organic chemistry for its unique properties as a Lewis acid.
Boronic acid is a chemical compound that belongs to the class of organoboron compounds. It is characterized by the presence of a boron atom bound to three oxygen atoms (forming a cyclic boronic acid) or connected to a carbon atom (forming acyclic boronic acid), and a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the boron atom. The general formula of boronic acid can be denoted as R-B(OH)2, where R represents an organic group.
Boronic acid compounds are known for their unique properties and versatile applications in various fields, particularly in organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. They are widely used as building blocks or reagents in the formation of carbon-carbon bonds through Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reactions.
Due to the Lewis acidity of the boron atom, boronic acids can form reversible complexes with Lewis bases, such as alcohols, amines, and thiols. This property makes them valuable tools in sensing and recognition systems, where they can act as receptors for specific molecules, including sugars, nucleotides, and biomolecules.
Moreover, boronic acids have shown promise in drug development and medicinal chemistry, being utilized as key components in the synthesis of enzyme inhibitors, receptor antagonists, and anticancer agents. Their interaction with certain enzymes and receptors enables selective modulation of physiological processes.
In summary, boronic acid is a versatile compound with a wide range of applications, including organic synthesis, sensor development, and medicinal chemistry. Its unique properties make it a valuable tool for researchers in various scientific fields.
The word "boronic acid" derives from the term "boron" and the suffix "-ic acid".
The element boron is named after the Arabic word "buraq" and the Persian word "burah", both of which were used to describe borax. Borax is a compound that contains boron and was historically used in various applications, including as a flux, a detergent, and a preservative.
The "-ic acid" suffix is commonly used to indicate the presence of a carboxylic acid functional group in a compound. Carboxylic acids are organic compounds characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group (-COOH). When boron forms a compound that contains a carboxyl group, it is referred to as boronic acid.