Diborative Reduction of Alkynes to 1,2-Diboryl-1,2-Dimetalloalkanes: Its Application for the Synthesis of Diverse 1,2-Bis(boronate)s.

Reduction of alkynes with alkali metals in the presence of B2pin2 results in diboration of alkynes. Distinct from conventional dissolving metal hydrogenations, two carbon-boron bonds and also two carbon-alkali metal bonds can be constructed in one operation to form 1,2-diboryl-1,2-dimetalloalkanes. The 1,2-diboryl-1,2-dimetalloalkanes generated are readily convertible to a wide range of vicinal bis(boronate)s. In particular, oxidation of the 1,2-dianionic species provides ( E)-1,2-diborylalkenes, unique anti-selective diboration of alkynes being thus executed.