Hydroborations are very commonly used reactions in organic synthesis. For example, alkenyl boronic esters can be synthesized via the hydroboration of alkynes and serve as useful intermediates. There are a variety of examples of transition-metal-catalyzed hydroboration of alkynes to give (E)-alkenyl boronates. (Z)-selective hydroboration reactions of alkynes are less common.

Nobuharu Iwasawa, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, and colleagues have developed a (Z)-selective hydroboration of terminal alkynes (pictured). The team used a rhodium catalyst with a thioxanthene-based PSP-type pincer ligand. They reacted 13 different terminal alkenes with pinacolborane (HBpin) in the presence of [Rh(nbd)₂]BF₄ (nbd = norbornadiene) and the pincer ligand, using toluene as the solvent. The reactions were performed at 30 °C.

The desired (Z)-alkenyl boronates were obtained in moderate to good yields and with high selectivities. The reaction tolerates a range of functional groups, including ketones and halides. The team proposes a mechanism that involves Rh–vinylidene intermediates.

• (Z)-Selective Hydroboration of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by a PSP–Pincer Rhodium Complex,
  Yanzong Lyu, Naoyuki Toriumi, Nobuharu Iwasawa,
  Org. Lett. 2021.
  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.orglett.1c03606