Organoboron compounds are valuable synthetic intermediates that find application in a diverse variety of processes including both C-X and C-C bond-forming transformations. This has been achieved by using a variety of boron derivatives. Of these, boronate esters are probably the most versatile and, reflecting this, methods for the generation of boronate esters are of considerable current interest. Given the mild reaction conditions, good functional group tolerance, and low cost of the metal catalyst, the use of copper-boryl reagents is particularly attractive. In this review, methodologies in copper-boryl chemistry are discussed and the many different transformations possible are surveyed.

We report a phosphine-catalyzed trans hydroboration of alkynoate esters and amides. The reaction proceeds under mild conditions with exclusive ( E)-selectivity to afford ( E)-β-boryl acrylates and ( E)-β-boryl acrylamides in good to excellent yields. The reaction is tolerant of a variety of functional groups and allows efficient access to novel oxaboroles as well as a pargyline derivative (MAO inhibitor). Theoretical calculations suggest an internal hydride generates a phosphonium allenoxyborane followed by the formation of a key phosphonocyclobutene intermediate that collapses in a stereoselective, rate-limiting step.

We report the first trans phosphinoboration of internal alkynes. With an organophosphine catalyst, alkynoate esters and the phosphinoboronate Ph2P‐Bpin are efficiently converted into the corresponding trans‐α‐phosphino‐β‐boryl acrylate products in moderate to good yield with high regio‐ and Z‐selectivity. This reaction operates under mild conditions and demonstrates good atom economy, requiring only a modest excess of the phosphinoboronate. X‐ray crystallography experiments allowed structural assignment of the unprecedented and densely functionalized (Z)‐α‐phosphino‐β‐boryl acrylate products.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), characterized by sustained inflammation and progressive fibrosis, is highly prevalent and can eventually progress to end-stage kidney disease. However, current treatments to slow CKD progression are limited. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a product of sphingolipid catabolism, is a pleiotropic mediator involved in many cellular functions, and drugs targeting S1P signaling have previously been studied particularly for autoimmune diseases. The primary mechanism of most of these drugs is functional antagonism of S1P receptor-1 (S1P1) expressed on lymphocytes and the resultant immunosuppressive effect. Here, we documented the role of local S1P signaling in perivascular cells in the progression of kidney fibrosis using primary kidney perivascular cells and several conditional mouse models. S1P was predominantly produced by sphingosine kinase 2 in kidney perivascular cells and exported via spinster homolog 2 (Spns2). It bound to S1P1 expressed in perivascular cells to enhance production of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines upon injury, leading to immune cell infiltration and subsequent fibrosis. A small-molecule Spns2 inhibitor blocked S1P transport, resulting in suppression of inflammatory signaling in human and mouse kidney perivascular cells in vitro and amelioration of kidney fibrosis in mice. Our study provides insight into the regulation of inflammation and fibrosis by S1P and demonstrates the potential of Spns2 inhibition as a treatment for CKD and potentially other inflammatory and fibrotic diseases that avoids the adverse events associated with systemic modulation of S1P receptors.