Olefin cross-metathesis/Suzuki–Miyaura reactions on vinylphenylboronic acid pinacol esters

A series of alkenyl phenylboronic acid pinacol esters has been synthesized via an olefin cross-metathesis reaction of vinylphenylboronic acid pinacol ester derivatives. After catalytic hydrogenation, the resulting boronates were coupled via a microwave-mediated Suzuki–Miyaura reaction to afford a library of biarylethyl aryl and biarylethyl cycloalkyl derivatives. A complementary reaction sequence involved an initial Suzuki–Miyaura coupling.