Protodeboronation of Tertiary Boronic Esters: Asymmetric Synthesis of Tertiary Alkyl Stereogenic Centers

Organocatalytic Asymmetric Allylic Benzylborylation via Fluoride-Assisted Catalytic Generation of α-Boryl Carbanionic Intermediates

Herein we describe the organocatalytic asymmetric allylic benzylborylation of allyl fluorides with α-silyl benzylboronic esters. The catalytic protocol leverages the singular features of fluoride as an unconventional leaving group, enabling the catalytic generation of reactive α-boryl carbanion species through desilylative activation. It allows the construction of a wide set of homoallylic benzylated organoboronates bearing two contiguous stereocenters. The chiral boronate installed in the products serves as a synthetic lynchpin to construct complex chemical architectures in a stereospecific manner.

Suppressing Protodeboronation in Cu-Mediated 19F/18F-Fluorination of Arylboronic Acids: A Mechanistically Guided Approach Towards Optimized PET Probe Development

Fluorinated arenes play a crucial role in drug discovery, specialty materials, and medical imaging. Although several variants for Cu-mediated nucleophilic fluorination of arylboronic acids and derivatives have been developed, these protocols rarely address the occurrence and control of protodeboronation, which greatly complicates product separation and can compromise the effectiveness of a radiotracer for in vivo imaging. Consequently, simpler and more efficient procedures are needed to allow rapid 18F/19F-fluorination of both arylboronic acids and esters while minimizing protodeboronation. Mechanistic controls revealed that in addition to a high temperature, strong donor ligands such as acetonitrile and pyridine accentuate a Cu-mediated protodeboronation. This observation guided the optimization of a ligandless procedure, with t-BuOH as solvent, to activate fluoride under milder conditions at lower temperatures minimizing protodeboronation. Additionally, a new copper salt, Cu(ONf)2 was employed to further improve the fluorination efficiency. A large range of functional groups are tolerated under the new procedure, which is complete within 30 minutes at a temperature of 60 °C, and affords fluorinated arenes and heteroarenes in 39 % to 84 % yield. With minimal modifications, the protocol can also be applied in 18F-radiofluorination, affording radiochemical conversions (RCCs) between 17 and 54 % with minimal protodeboronation compared to previously established protocols.

Unveiling the Use of 1,1-Bis(triflyl)ethylene as CF3SO2CH═CH2 Source with the Assistance of (n-Bu)4NF: Synthesis of 3-[(Trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]cyclobut-1-enes

Allylic sulfone-embedded cyclobutenes have been prepared in one pot from alkynes. The carbocycle and the alkenyl sulfone moieties were installed through consecutive bis(triflyl)cyclobutenylation of a triple bond and tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (TBAF)-assisted hydrodesulfonylation of an allylic bis(sulfone). It is noteworthy that 1,1-bis(triflyl)ethylene acts as a CF3SO2CH═CH2 source for the first time.

2D to 3D Reconstruction of Boron-Linked Covalent-Organic Frameworks

The transformation of two-dimensional (2D) covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) into three-dimensions (3D) is synthetically challenging, and it is typically addressed through interlayer cross-linking of alkene or alkyne bonds. Here, we report the first example of the chemical reconstruction of a 2D COF to a 3D COF with a complete lattice rearrangement facilitated by base-triggered boron hybridization. This chemical reconstruction involves the conversion of trigonal boronate ester linkages to tetrahedral anionic spiroborate linkages. This transformation reticulates the coplanar, closely stacked square cobalt(II) phthalocyanine (PcCo) units into a 3D perpendicular arrangement. As a result, the pore size of COFs expands from 2.45 nm for the initial 2D square lattice (sql) to 3.02 nm in the 3D noninterpenetrated network (nbo). Mechanistic studies reveal a base-catalyzed boronate ester protodeboronation pathway for the formation of the spiroborate structure.

Borylative transition metal-free couplings of vinyl iodides with various nucleophiles, alkenes or alkynes

Alkyl boronic esters are highly valuable compounds in organic chemistry and related fields due to their good stability and highly versatile reactivity. In this edge article, stereoselective borylative couplings of vinyl iodides with various nucleophiles, alkenes or alkynes is reported. These coupling reactions proceed through stereospecific hydroboration and subsequent stereospecific 1,2-metallate rearrangement. The cascades utilize readily available reagents and proceed without the need of a transition metal catalyst.

A General Strategy To Access Alternating Styrene/Substituted Styrene Copolymers by Using a Traceless Controlling Group

We herein report a synthetic strategy for alternating copolymers of styrene and substituted styrenes by utilizing α-styryl boronate pinacol ester (StBpin) as the co-monomer through radical alternating copolymerization followed by protodeboronation. The excellent alternating polymerization behavior of the StBpin co-monomer in such a radical polymerization system is considered to be attributed to the steric hindrance and radical stabilization exerted by the Bpin group. This strategy is effective with a wide range of substituted styrene co-monomers regardless of the electronic nature of the substituents, and the protodeboronation of the alternating Bpin-containing polymers is highly efficient without polymer backbone alternation. RAFT living polymerization was also compatible with this approach. Thus, this strategy provides a way to build-up alternating copolymers consisting of similar styrene-type co-monomers, which has been inaccessible by conventional synthetic methods.

Nickel-catalyzed Nucleophilic C-Borylation of Imines

Application of bioisostere plays an important role in drug discovery. α-Aminoboronic acid is the familiar bioisostere of α-amino acid. Developing reactions for the synthesis of a wide variety of α-aminoboronic acid is one important task for synthetic chemistry. Herein, we report the development of nucleophilic C-borylation chemistry for N-arylimines catalyzed by nickel. The reaction proceeds through the insertion of a borylnickel species into the C=N bond to afford the corresponding α-aminoboronate, which was isolated as acetamide after trapping with acetic anhydride. N-Benzyl imine is also tolerated by the developed reaction.

Selective synthesis of boron-substituted enynes via a one-pot diboration/protodeboration sequence

An efficient and facile one-pot protocol to access enynylboronates via a Pt-catalyzed diboration/protodeboration strategy has been developed. The reaction is suitable for various silylsubstituted symmetrical and unsymmetrical 1,3-diynes, leading to π-conjugated organoboron compounds with excellent regio- and stereoselectivity.

Copper-Catalyzed Borylation and Silylation of Dichlorocyclobutenones

We report copper-catalyzed borylation and silylation of dichlorocyclobutenones, which furnish the boron-substituted and silicon-substituted polyfunctionalized cyclobutenones in high yields. The reactions proceed under mild reaction conditions, show broad substrate scope, and display high chemoselectivity. In addition, a series of transformations of the corresponding products has been realized.

Diastereoselective Alkylation of Activated Nitrogen Heterocycles with Alkenyl Boronate Complexes

Alkenyl boronate complexes react with acylated quinolines and isoquinolines via 1,2-metalate rearrangement to give alkylated, dearomatized heterocycles in good yields, diastereoselectivities, and regioselectivities. This multi-component coupling is highly modular and can be used to access a wide scope of heterocyclic scaffolds. Chiral boronic esters made through this methodology possess high synthetic potential and can be transformed into various functional groups in one step without racemization.

1,2-Metallate Rearrangement Using Indole Boronate Species to Access 2,3-Diarylindoles and Indolines

A transition metal-free multicomponent reaction using lithiated indole, boronic ester, pyridine, and ethyl chloroformate was developed to access C2,C3 bis-arylated indoles, which are present in several marketed drugs and bioactive compounds. One-pot access to unsymmetrical C2,C3-diaryl indole from the parent indole remains a huge synthetic challenge. Our group was able to achieve this goal through a transition metal-free 1,2-metalate rearrangement of the indole boronate complex. The reaction of indole boronate species with activated pyridine allows 1,2-migration to access pyridyl-indoleboronate species, which will convert to the corresponding indole upon oxidation and indoline after deborylation. The reaction tolerates substituted pyridines, quinolone, isoquinoline, and more. Both aryl and alkyl boronic esters were accommodated under optimized reaction conditions. Apart from mechanistic studies using ¹¹B-NMR, this methodology has been applied to the gram-scale synthesis of several bioactive compounds.

Enantio- and diastereoselective boron conjugate addition to α-alkyl α,β-unsaturated esters

We developed a copper-catalyzed enantio- and diastereoselective boron conjugate addition to α-alkyl α,β-unsaturated esters under base-free conditions. The approach showed excellent enantioselectivities (87-99% ee) and moderate to good conversions (51-99%), albeit with moderate diastereoselectivities (1 : 1-17 : 1 dr). The synthetic utility of this protocol was demonstrated.

Annulation strategies for diverse heterocycles via the reductive transformation of 2-nitrostyrenes

Reduction of the stable nitro group is a fundamental and widely used transformation for the construction of complex and functionalized heterocyclic architectures. The unfolding of the reactivity of the nitro group in the 2-nitrostyrene moiety not only triggers the formation of carbon-nitrogen bonds, but also offers the opportunity for annulation and heteroannulation, thereby providing a cascade process for the synthesis of highly conjugated natural and unnatural molecules. In this review, we comprehensively discuss the use of 2-nitrostyrene motifs in the synthesis of various N-heterocycles. We offer readers an overview of the synthetic achievements achieved to date, highlighting their important features, reactivities, and mechanisms.

Stereodivergent Synthesis of 1,3-Dienes via Protodeboronation of Homoallenylboronic Esters

Vinylboronic esters and allylboronic esters are well known to afford olefins by protodeboronation, and therefore homoallenylboronic esters should be similarly available as precursors for 1,3-dienes, but this strategy has not been well explored due to the limited availability of homoallenylboronic esters. Here, we describe a versatile synthesis of homoallenylboronic esters via lithiation-borylation and subsequent 1,2-rearrangement. The resulting homoallenylboronic esters were successfully converted into Z- and E-1,3-dienes by protodeboronation using Bu₄NF and B(C₆F₅)₃/PhOH, respectively.

Transition metal-free reductive coupling of allylic sulfonylhydrazones with aryl boronic acids for C(sp3)–C(sp2) bond formation

The reductive coupling between allylic sulfonylhydrazones and aryl boronic acids gives 1,3-diarylpropene systems with good to excellent yields under very simple reaction conditions without metal catalysts and an inert atmosphere.

Rh-Catalyzed Coupling of Aldehydes with Allylboronates Enables Facile Access to Ketones

We present herein a novel strategy for the preparation of ketones from aldehydes and allylic boronicesters. This reaction involves the allylation of aldehydes with allylic boronicesters and the Rh-catalyzed chain-walking of homoallylic alcohols. The key to this successful development is the protodeboronation of alkenyl borylether intermediate via a tetravalent borate anion species in the presence of KHF 2 and MeOH. This approach features mild reaction conditions, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group tolerance. Mechanistic studies also supported that the tandem allylation and chain-walking process was involved.

Acylboronates in Polarity-Reversed Generation of Acyl Palladium(II) Intermediates

We report a catalytic cross-coupling process between aryl (pseudo)halides and boron-based acyl anion equivalents. This mode of acylboronate reactivity represents polarity reversal, which is supported by the observation of tetracoordinated boronate and acyl palladium(II) species by ¹¹B, ³¹P NMR, and mass spectrometry. A broad scope of aliphatic and aromatic acylboronates has been examined, as well as a variety of aryl (pseudo)halides.

Tetracoordinate Boron Intermediates Enable Unconventional Transformations

ConspectusOrganoboron compounds are a class of multifunctional reagents for the construction of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds in modern synthetic chemistry. The transformations of organoboron compounds are usually carried out through tetracoordinate boron intermediates and mainly include additions to unsaturated bonds, rearrangement reactions, transmetalation reactions, and so on. Although great progress has been achieved in improving tetracoordinate boron intermediates, there are still shortcomings, such as sparse activation modes, a paucity of reaction strategies and difficulties in stereoselective control. In this Account, we mainly discuss our recent advances in the development of unconventional transformations of organoboron compounds based on the design of tetracoordinate boron intermediates, including the following three topics: (1) the construction of C-B bonds; (2) the construction of C-C bonds; (3) the design and application of chiral tetracoordinate boron.The development of new strategies to build C-B bonds is of great interest for chemists. We have developed tandem reactions involving multiple tetracoordinate boron intermediates for the selective borylations of alkynes and the synthesis of stable tetracoordinate boron, including a domino-borylation-protodeboronation (DBP) strategy for selective borylations of alkynes, highly regio-, stereo-, and chemoselective Cu-catalyzed diborylation of β-CF₃-1,3-enynes and cascade B-Cl/C-B cross-metathesis and C-H bond borylation for the synthesis of tetracoordinate triarylboranes. We have also developed novel strategies involving tetracoordinate boron intermediates to form C-C bonds because the formation of C-C bonds is an enduring theme of organic chemistry. We disclosed long distance or multiple migration reactions and novel coupling partners in transmetalation reactions, such as long distance 1,4-migrations of tetracoordinate nitrile oxide boron and nitrilium boron intermediates, multiple migrations of tetracoordinate isocyanide boron intermediate, palladium-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of thioureas or thioamides, copper-catalyzed atroposelective Michael-type addition, and a palladium-catalyzed atroposelective Catellani reaction. Moreover, in terms of stereoselective control of the tetracoordinate boron intermediate, we found that a chiral tricoordinate boron complex could activate water to form a chiral tetracoordinate boron complex with Brønsted acidity, which has been successfully applied with high enantioselectivity to the asymmetric catalytic reduction of challenging indoles.This Account summarizes our recent efforts using unconventional transformations of organoboron compounds for the design of tetracoordinate boron intermediates, which not only achieved the precise construction of a wide range of diverse C-B bonds and C-C bonds but also developed a novel chiral Brønsted acid for the asymmetric catalytic reduction of challenging indoles.

Mechanistic Studies Inform Design of Improved Ti(salen) Catalysts for Enantioselective [3 + 2] Cycloaddition

Ti(salen) complexes catalyze the asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of cyclopropyl ketones with alkenes. While high enantioselectivities are achieved with electron-rich alkenes, electron-deficient alkenes are less selective. Herein, we describe mechanistic studies to understand the origins of catalyst and substrate trends in an effort to identify a more general catalyst. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the selectivity determining transition state revealed the origin of stereochemical control to be catalyst distortion, which is largely influenced by the chiral backbone and adamantyl groups on the salicylaldehyde moieties. While substitution of the adamantyl groups was detrimental to the enantioselectivity, mechanistic information guided the development of a set of eight new Ti(salen) catalysts with modified diamine backbones. These catalysts were evaluated with four electron-deficient alkenes to develop a three-parameter statistical model relating enantioselectivity to physical organic parameters. This statistical model is capable of quantitative prediction of enantioselectivity with structurally diverse alkenes. These mechanistic insights assisted the discovery of a new Ti(salen) catalyst, which substantially expanded the reaction scope and significantly improved the enantioselectivity of synthetically interesting building blocks.

Copper-Catalyzed ortho-Functionalization of Quinoline N-Oxides with Vinyl Arenes

An efficient copper-catalyzed regioselective C-H alkenylation and borylative alkylation of quinoline N-oxides with vinyl arenes in the presence of pinacol diborane has been developed. The reaction proceeds through the borylcupration of the vinyl arenes followed by nucleophilic attack of the resulting alkyl copper species to the quinoline N-oxides. Benzoquinone and KO^t Bu were identified as the necessary additives at the second step of the reaction that are crucial for the success of the reaction. A wide range of C2-functionalizaed quinolines were obtained with good functional group tolerance, which may find utilities in pharmaceuticals and synthetic chemistry.

Synthesis of 1,3-Bis-(boryl)alkanes through Boronic Ester Induced Consecutive Double 1,2-Migration

A general and efficient approach for the preparation of 1,3-bis-(boryl)alkanes is introduced. It is shown that readily generated vinylboron ate complexes react with commercially available ICH2 Bpin to valuable 1,3-bis-(boryl)alkanes. The introduced transformation, which is experimentally easy to conduct, shows broad substrate scope and high functional-group tolerance. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction does not proceed via radical intermediates. Instead, an unprecedented boronic ester induced sequential bis-1,2-migration cascade is suggested.

Difunctionalization of C-C σ-Bonds Enabled by the Reaction of Bicyclo[1.1.0]butyl Boronate Complexes with Electrophiles: Reaction Development, Scope, and Stereochemical Origins

Difunctionalization reactions of C-C σ-bonds have the potential to streamline access to molecules that would otherwise be difficult to prepare. However, the development of such reactions is challenging because C-C σ-bonds are typically unreactive. Exploiting the high ring-strain energy of polycyclic carbocycles is a common strategy to weaken and facilitate the reaction of C-C σ-bonds, but there are limited examples of highly strained C-C σ-bonds being used in difunctionalization reactions. We demonstrate that highly strained bicyclo[1.1.0]butyl boronate complexes (strain energy ca. 65 kcal/mol), which were prepared by reacting boronic esters with bicyclo[1.1.0]butyl lithium, react with electrophiles to achieve the diastereoselective difunctionalization of the strained central C-C σ-bond of the bicyclo[1.1.0]butyl unit. The reaction shows broad substrate scope, with a range of different electrophiles and boronic esters being successfully employed to form a diverse set of 1,1,3-trisubstituted cyclobutanes (>50 examples) with high diastereoselectivity. The high diastereoselectivity observed has been rationalized based on a combination of experimental data and DFT calculations, which suggests that separate concerted and stepwise reaction mechanisms are operating, depending upon the migrating substituent and electrophile used.

Stereodivergent Asymmetric Synthesis of α,β-Disubstituted β-Aminoalkylboronic Acid Derivatives via Group-Selective Protodeboronation Enabling Access to the Elusive Anti Isomer

Chiral β-aminoalkylboronates generate growing interest as versatile synthetic building blocks to access β-aminoalcohols and other useful compounds, and also as bioisosteres of β-amino acids in drug discovery. In this study, the lack of methodology to access both syn and anti diastereomers of optically enriched, acyclic α,β-disubstituted β-aminoalkylboronates is addressed with the development of a divergent, diastereoselective strategy for the monoprotodeboration of β-amino gem-bis(boronate) precursors. To this end, new reaction conditions were successfully optimized to provide the elusive anti diastereomer by inverting a sequence of desulfinylation and protodeboronation. The desired syn or anti isomers are isolated independently in good yields and excellent diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1 dr) for a wide scope of substituents. The diastereotopic group selectivity of the new conditions yielding the anti isomer is rationalized by invoking a reactive rotamer featuring two ammonium-boronate hydrogen bonds, which enables phosphate coordination to boron with a concomitant, stereoretentive protonation of the least sterically hindered C-B bond. The accessibility and utility of both diastereomers of these α,β-disubstituted β-aminoalkylboronates is exemplified with the functionalization of the amino group, stereospecific oxidation to β-amino alcohols and C-C bond transformations of the secondary alkylboronate, and the preparation of free boronic acids and hemiboronic heterocycles.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Di- and Sesquiterpenoids by Catalytic C-C Activation of Cyclopentanones

To show the synthetic utility of the catalytic C-C activation of less strained substrates, described here are the collective and concise syntheses of the natural products (-)-microthecaline A, (-)-leubehanol, (+)-pseudopteroxazole, (+)-seco-pseudopteroxazole, pseudopterosin A-F and G-J aglycones, and (+)-heritonin. The key step in these syntheses involve a Rh-catalyzed C-C/C-H activation cascade of 3-arylcyclopentanones, which provides a rapid and enantioselective route to access the polysubstituted tetrahydronaphthalene cores presented in these natural products. Other important features include 1) the direct C-H amination of the tetralone substrate in the synthesis of (-)-microthecaline A, 2) the use of phosphoric acid to enhance efficiency and regioselectivity for problematic cyclopentanone substrates in the C-C activation reactions, and 3) the direct conversion of serrulatane into amphilectane diterpenes by an allylic cyclodehydrogenation coupling.

Visible-Light-Driven Strain-Increase Ring Contraction Allows the Synthesis of Cyclobutyl Boronic Esters

There are a limited number of ring-contraction methodologies which convert readily available five-membered rings into strained four-membered rings. Here we report a photo-induced radical-mediated ring contraction of five-membered-ring alkenyl boronate complexes into cyclobutanes. The process involves the addition of an electrophilic radical to the electron-rich alkenyl boronate complex, leading to an α-boryl radical. Upon one-electron oxidation, ring-contractive 1,2-metalate rearrangement occurs to give a cyclobutyl boronic ester. A range of radical precursors and vinyl boronates can be employed, and chiral cyclobutanes can be accessed with high levels of stereocontrol. The process was extended to the preparation of benzofused cyclobutenes and the versatility of the boronic ester was demonstrated by conversion to other functional groups.

Tri(boryl)alkanes and Tri(boryl)alkenes: The Versatile Reagents

The interest of organoboron chemistry in organic synthesis is growing, together with the development of new and versatile polyborated reagents. Here, the preparation of 1,1,1-tri(boryl)alkanes, 1,2,3-tri(boryl)alkanes, 1,1,2-tri(boryl)alkanes, as well as 1,1,2-tri(boryl)alkenes as suitable and accessible polyborated systems is demonstrated as being easily applied in the construction of new carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds. Synthetic procedures and limitations have been collected to demonstrate the powerful strategies to construct selective molecules, taking advantages of the easy transformation of carbon-boron bond in multiple functionalities, under the total control of chemo- and stereoselectivity.

Ring-Expansion Induced 1,2-Metalate Rearrangements: Highly Diastereoselective Synthesis of Cyclobutyl Boronic Esters

The broad synthetic utility of organoboron compounds stems from their ready ability to undergo 1,2-migrations. Normally, such shifts are induced by α-leaving groups or by reactions of alkenyl boronates with electrophiles. Herein, we present a new strategy to induce 1,2-metalate rearrangements, via ring expansion of vinylcyclopropyl boronate complexes activated by electrophiles. This leads to a cyclopropane-stabilized carbocation, which triggers ring expansion and concomitant 1,2-metalate rearrangement. This novel process delivers medicinally relevant 1,2-substituted cyclobutyl boronic esters with high levels of diastereoselectivity. A wide range of organolithiums and Grignard reagents, electrophiles, and vinylcyclopropyl boronic esters can be used. The methodology was applied to a short, stereoselective synthesis of (±)-grandisol. Computational studies indicate that the reaction proceeds via a nonclassical carbocation followed by anti-1,2-migration.

Recent Advances in Metal-Catalyzed Alkyl–Boron (C(sp3)–C(sp2)) Suzuki-Miyaura Cross-Couplings

Boron chemistry has evolved to become one of the most diverse and applied fields in organic synthesis and catalysis. Various valuable reactions such as hydroborylations and Suzuki–Miyaura cross-couplings (SMCs) are now considered as indispensable methods in the synthetic toolbox of researchers in academia and industry. The development of novel sterically- and electronically-demanding C(sp3)–Boron reagents and their subsequent metal-catalyzed cross-couplings attracts strong attention and serves in turn to expedite the wheel of innovative applications of otherwise challenging organic adducts in different fields. This review describes the significant progress in the utilization of classical and novel C(sp3)–B reagents (9-BBN and 9-MeO-9-BBN, trifluoroboronates, alkylboranes, alkylboronic acids, MIDA, etc.) as coupling partners in challenging metal-catalyzed C(sp3)–C(sp2) cross-coupling reactions, such as B-alkyl SMCs after 2001.

Diastereo- and Enantioselective Synthesis of Homoallylic Amines Bearing Quaternary Carbon Centers

A Cu-catalyzed method for the efficient enantio- and diastereoselective synthesis of chiral homoallylic amines bearing a quaternary carbon and an alkenylboron is disclosed. Transformations are promoted by a readily prepared (phosphoramidite)-Cu complex and involve bench-stable γ,γ-disubstituted allyldiborons and benzyl imines; products are obtained in up to 82% yield, >20:1 dr, and >99:1 er. Reactions proceed via stereodefined boron-stabilized allylic Cu species formed by an enantioselective transmetalation. Utility of the 1-amino-3-alkenylboronate products is highlighted by a variety of synthetic transformations.

Base-promoted domino-borylation-protodeboronation strategy

Since a nucleophilic sp2 boron species can be generated in situ under the combined action of an inorganic base, B2pin2 and methanol, research on base-promoted nucleophilic borylation of unsaturated compounds has attracted significant attention. A series of multi-borylated compounds, such as alkyl 1,2-bis(boronates), gem-diborylalkanes, and 1,1,2-tris(boronates), are constructed based on this strategy. These multi-borylated compounds can in turn undergo selective protodeboronation, creating a variety of useful boron-containing compounds. This Feature article documents the development of base-promoted domino-borylation-protodeboronation (DBP) strategies and their applications in organic synthesis.

Lewis Base-Catalyzed Enantioselective Conjugate Reduction of β,β-Disubstituted α,β-Unsaturated Ketones with Trichlorosilane: E/Z-Isomerization, Regioselectivity, and Synthetic Applications

The chiral bisphosphine dioxide-catalyzed asymmetric conjugate reduction of acyclic β,β-disubstituted α,β-unsaturated ketones with trichlorosilane affords saturated ketones having a stereogenic carbon center at the carbonyl β-position with high enantioselectivities. Because the E/Z-isomerizations of enone substrates occur concomitantly, reduction products with the same absolute configurations are obtained from either (E)- or (Z)-enones. Conjugate reduction is accelerated in the presence of an electron-rich aryl group at the β-position of the enone owing to its carbocation-stabilizing ability. Computational studies were also conducted in order to elucidate the origin of the observed enantioselectivity. The regio- and enantioselective reductions of dienones were realized and applied to the syntheses of ar-turmerone, turmeronol A, mutisianthol, and jungianol, which are optically active sesquiterpenes.

Catalytic protodeboronation of pinacol boronic esters: formal anti-Markovnikov hydromethylation of alkenes

Pinacol boronic esters are highly valuable building blocks in organic synthesis. In contrast to the many protocols available on the functionalizing deboronation of alkyl boronic esters, protodeboronation is not well developed. Herein we report catalytic protodeboronation of 1°, 2° and 3° alkyl boronic esters utilizing a radical approach. Paired with a Matteson-CH2-homologation, our protocol allows for formal anti-Markovnikov alkene hydromethylation, a valuable but unknown transformation. The hydromethylation sequence was applied to methoxy protected (-)-Δ8-THC and cholesterol. The protodeboronation was further used in the formal total synthesis of δ-(R)-coniceine and indolizidine 209B.

Ligand-Controlled Regiodivergent Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Alkene Hydroboration

Regiocontrol in the rhodium-catalyzed boration of vinyl arenes is typically dominated by the presence of the conjugated aryl substituent. However, small differences in TADDOL-derived chiral monophosphite ligands can override this effect and direct rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of β-aryl and β-heteroaryl methylidenes by pinacolborane to selectively produce either chiral primary or tertiary borated products. The regiodivergent behavior is coupled with enantiodivergent addition of the borane. The nature of the TADDOL backbone substituents and that of the phosphite moiety function synergistically to direct the sense and extent of regioselectivity and enantioinduction. Twenty substrates are shown to undergo each reaction mode with regioselectivity values reaching greater than 20:1 and enantiomer ratios reaching up to 98:2. A variety of subsequent transformations illustrate the potential utility of each product.