Copper-Catalyzed β-Boration of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds: Rate Acceleration by Alcohol Additives

Abstract
The efficient addition of bis(pinacolato)diboron to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with a copper−diphosphine catalyst has been carried out. A dramatic rate acceleration of the reaction was realized by adding alcohol additives. With use of this procedure, a variety of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds including conjugated substrates at the acid oxidation level such as esters and nitriles were reacted to give to the corresponding β-boryl carbonyl compounds in high yields.