Copper-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydroboration of Unactivated 1,1-Disubstituted Alkenes

J Am Chem Soc. 2017 Oct 4;139(39):13660-13663. doi: 10.1021/jacs.7b08379. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Abstract

We report an efficient and highly enantioselective hydroboration of aliphatic 1,1-disubstituted alkenes with pinacolborane using a phosphine-Cu catalyst. The method allows facile preparation of enantiomerically enriched β-chiral alkyl pinacolboronates from a range of 1,1-disubstituted alkenes with high enantioselectivity up to 99% ee. Unprecedented enantiodiscrimination between the geminal alkyl substituents was observed with functional group compatibility in the hydroboration. Furthermore, a catalyst loading as low as 1 mol % furnished the desired product without a decrease in yield or selectivity, demonstrating its efficiency in gram scale synthesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't