Synthesis of quinuclidine–benzyl(ethylcarbamoyl)borane: the first boron analogue of a phenylanine derivative

Abstract
The title compound, the first non-glycine, boron analogue of an α-amino acid derivative, was prepared by base hydrolysis of the N-ethylnitrilium salt of quinuclidine–benzylcynoborane which is formed by treatment of the readily available quinuclidine–benzylborane with l2 and then sodium cyanide; the analogue has been fully characterized spectroscopically and by X-ray diffraction.