Volume 64, Issue 28 e202506968
Research Article

Metal-Free Divergent Hydroboration/Multiboration of Terminal Alkynes via Markovnikov Pathway

Dr. Min-Jie Zhou

Dr. Min-Jie Zhou

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201 China

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Ke Xu

Ke Xu

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201 China

School of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211 China

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Prof. Dr. Yanwei Gu

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Yanwei Gu

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201 China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

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Prof. Dr. Yinjun Xie

Corresponding Author

Prof. Dr. Yinjun Xie

Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Advanced Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers Technology, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering (NIMTE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201 China

University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049 China

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

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First published: 06 May 2025

Graphical Abstract

A metal-free and Markovnikov-type process for divergent hydroboration/multiboration of terminal alkynes has been achieved, enabling the transformation of diverse aryl and alkyl alkynes into valuable but previously inaccessible α-alkenylboronate, 2,2-diborylalkane, 1,2,2-triborylalkane, and 1,2-diborylalkane with excellent regio- and chemoselectivities by simply modulating the proton additive and solvent.

Abstract

Hydroboration/multiboration of alkynes has been considered a straightforward route for the construction of high-value alkenylboronates and multiborylalkanes, especially reflected by the productions of β-alkenylboronates and related multiborylalkanes based on the anti-Markovnikov-type transformations of terminal alkyne. However, the syntheses of branched α-alkenylboronates and related multiborylalkanes remain elusive due to the thermodynamically and kinetically unfavorable Markovnikov hydroboration process. Herein, we present a conceptually novel metal-free approach for Markovnikov hydroboration of terminal alkynes to achieve the α-alkenylboronates. Derived from it, we have successfully realized unprecedented tailor-made multiborations (2,2-dihydroboration, 1,2,2-triboration, and 1,2-dihydroboration) of alkynes by simply changing the proton sources and solvents. The broad substrate scope and outstanding chemo- and regioselectivities of the developed approaches unlock opportunities to exploit these formerly unattainable organoboronates, thereby expanding uncharted chemical space. The preliminary mechanistic studies highlight the synergistic roles of amide solvents, suitable proton sources, and B2cat2 in facilitating these tunable transformations.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available in the supplementary material of this article.

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