Rhodium(I)-Catalyzed Defluorinative Coupling of Boronic Acids with Monofluoroalkenes

We herein describe a highly selective Rh­(I)-catalyzed defluorinative coupling of boronic acids with (E)-β-monofluoroacrylates. In contrast to previous methods, the trisubstituted (Z)-alkene products were obtained in excellent dr with an inversion of double bond geometry. Experimental and computational studies established that Rh­(I)-facilitated β-F elimination is favored over competing β-H elimination and protodemetalation.