(E)-2-boryl-1,3-butadiene derivatives of the 10-TMS-9-BBDs: highly selective reagents for the asymmetric synthesis of anti-1,2-disubstituted 3,4-pentadien-1-ols.

The efficient stepwise construction of optically pure trans-4-substituted 2-boryl-1,3-butadienes 6 is described. Hydroboration of 1-alkynes with either enantiomeric form of 3 leads to the pure trans-1-alkenylboranes 4 which undergo addition of α-ethoxyvinyllithium followed by a BF3-mediated 1,2-B→C vinylic group migration to provide 6. These organoboranes 6 serve as a new type of asymmetric allylborating agent providing an extremely selective protocol for the preparation of anti-1,2-disubstituted 3,4-pentadien-1-ols 8 as essentially single diastereomers in enantiomerically pure form. One example of a cis-2-boryl-1,3-butadiene (9) was prepared through a Grignard procedure. It was found to provide the corresponding syn-alcohol 11. The utility of 8 was demonstrated in their conversion to substituted β-hydroxy acids 12 through ozonolysis and to substituted α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactones 13 through Ru-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation.