Highly selective allylborations of aldehydes using α,α-disubstituted allylic pinacol boronic esters.

α,α-Disubstituted allylic pinacol boronic esters undergo highly selective allylborations of aldehydes to give tetrasubstituted homoallylic alcohols with exceptional levels of anti-Z-selectivity (>20:1). The scope of the reaction includes both acyclic and cyclic allylic boronic esters which lead to acyclic and exocyclic tetrasubstituted homoallylic alcohols. The use of β-borylated allylic boronic esters gave fully substituted alkenes bearing a boronic ester which underwent further cross-coupling enabling a highly modular and stereoselective approach to the synthesis of diaryl tetrasubstituted alkenes. Computational analysis revealed the origin of the remarkable selectivity observed.