| The development of methods to access molecules of increased complexity and synthetic utility from readily available chemical feedstocks is a central goal of synthetic organic chemistry. Towards this goal, we have developed new complementary strategies for the stereoselective carboboration of alkenes. In one approach, copper/palladium synergistic catalysis is utilized in the arylboration of activated alkenes. This paradigm serves as a platform to develop new strategies for stereospecific cross coupling and ultimately allows for the development of diastereoselective and enantioselective methods. Our efforts to extend this reactivity to unactivated alkenes led to the discovery of a nickel-catalyzed arylboration reaction. This discovery allows for diverse difunctionalization of a range of alkene substrates. This reaction represents a new manifold of reactivity in nickel catalysis. |
