Diboron reagents can be activated both, from a metal or free-metal context, and consequently the addition of boryl units to unsaturated substrates proceeds sometimes with complementary selectivity. We highlight here the power of boron chemistry to functionalize molecules and provide new routes towards challenging compounds.

Scheme 2. Regioselective one-pot nucleophilic b-boration/electrophilic fluorination studied in this work.

We describe ap ractical straightforward synthesis of 2-aryl-1,3-cyclopentanediones from a-iodoenones, via in situ palladium-catalyzed cross-couplingw ith hindereda rylboronic acids followed by copper-mediated b-borylation and finishing with an oxidative work-up. The sequential reactions are performed without intermediate isolation and the whole synthetic strategy might become of practical use fort he major challenges that companies currently face in R&D in agrochemicals.

Synthesis of 2-Aryl-1,3-cyclopentanediones Through Catalytic Borylation as a KeyStep. -Sequential Suzuki-type coupling between -iodocyclopentenone (I) and arylboronic acids followed by borylation and oxidative workup furnishes the title compounds in a one-pot manner in moderate yields. -(PALAU-LLUCH, G.; FERNANDEZ*, E.; Asian J. Org. Chem. 4 (2015) 9, 963-968, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajoc.201500229 ; Dep. Phys. Inorg. Chem., Univ. Rovira Virgili, E-43007 Tarragona, Spain; Eng.) -M. Tismer 03-063

Two efficient synthetic protocols are elaborated for the preparation of regioisomeric fluoro‐boryl‐ketones (III) or (IV)/(V).