Copper-Catalyzed Stereospecific Transformations of Alkylboronic Esters

Copper-catalyzed stereospecific cross-couplings of boronic esters are reported. Boron “ate” complexes derived from pinacol boronic esters and tert-butyl lithium undergo stereospecific transmetalation to copper cyanide, followed by coupling with alkynyl bromides, allyl halides, propargylic halides, β-haloenones, hydroxylamine esters, and acyl chlorides. Through this simple transformation, commercially available inexpensive compounds can be employed to convert primary and secondary alkylboronic esters to a wide array of synthetically useful compounds.