(NHC)-Cu-catalyzed C(sp)-C(sp) bond formation has been successfully achieved under mild conditions. Nonactivated alkyl triflates, which could be easily derived from alcohols, were utilized as C-O electrophiles. Mechanistic studies suggested that copper acetylide was the active species. Scale-up reactions further demonstrated the practicality and efficiency of the developed strategy.

An unprecedented stereoselective synthesis of trisubstituted vinylboronates is reported to proceed by direct borylation of lithium ketone enolates under transition‐metal‐free conditions. The stereospecific C−O borylation of lithium enolates was triggered by a carbonyl‐induced 1,3‐metalate rearrangement via a C‐bound boron enolate. DFT calculations and control experiments revealed that the stereoselectivity is controlled by sterics. A variety of stereospecific trisubstituted vinylboronates, together with several tetrasubstituted vinylboronates, were conveniently synthesized with the newly developed methodology. Based on the transformation of stereospecific vinylboronate, a single isomer of Dienestrol was efficiently obtained.

No abstract