Iron trichloride promoted hydrolysis of potassium organotrifluoroborates

In the presence of iron trichloride, the hydrolysis of potassium organotrifluoroborates occurs smoothly at room temperature to afford the corresponding organoboronic acids in good to excellent yields. The hydrolysis is effective for aryltrifluoroborates as well as alkenyl- and alkyl-trifluoroborates.