Asymmetric synthesis of protected α-amino boronic acid derivatives with an air- and moisture-stable Cu(II) catalyst.

The asymmetric borylation of N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines with bis(pinacolato)diboron is achieved using a Cu(II) catalyst and provides access to synthetically useful and pharmaceutically relevant α-amino boronic acid derivatives. The Cu(II)-catalyzed reaction is performed on the benchtop in air at room temperature using commercially available, inexpensive reagents at low catalyst loadings. A variety of N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines, including ketimines, react readily to provide α-sulfinamido boronate esters in good yields and with high stereoselectivity. In addition, this transformation is applied to the straightforward, telescoped synthesis of α-sulfinamido trifluoroborates.