Copper-catalyzed 1,2-borocarbonylation of unactivated alkenes

Abstract

Copper-catalyzed borocarbonylation of terminal alkenes usually gives terminal boron substituted β-boryl carbonyl compounds. In this communication, a copper-catalyzed selectivity-reversed borocarbonylation has been described. In the presence of CuOAc/BuPAd2 catalytic system, a series of unactivated terminal alkenes were transformed into β-boryl ketones in moderate yields, with sterically hindered alkyl bromides as the electrophiles.