Copper-Catalyzed Diastereoselective Borylative Allylation of Alkenyl Sulfones and Base-Controlled Synthesis of Skipped Dienes

Org Lett. 2023 Dec 15;25(49):8917-8921. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03753. Epub 2023 Dec 4.

Abstract

Divergent functionalization of α,β-unsaturated sulfones under copper catalysis is reported. Diastereoselective borylative allylation of alkenyl sulfones was achieved with a copper catalyst, allyl phosphate, bis(pinacolato)diboron, and LiOMe. In this method, the addition of a copper-boryl complex to alkenyl sulfone and subsequent allylic substitution rendered boroallylated products in good yield with excellent syn-diastereoselectivity. In contrast, a stronger base (KOt-Bu) promoted the reaction further toward the formation of (E)-skipped dienes, through elimination of the sulfonyl and boryl groups.