Axially chiral α-boryl-homoallenyl boronic esters as versatile toolbox for accessing centrally and axially chiral molecules

Axially chiral allenes bearing organoboron groups are highly sought-after building blocks in organic synthesis due to their potential for generating a wide range of axially and centrally chiral molecules. However, the existing methods for preparing axially chiral allenes containing boron group are primarily limited to the synthesis of allenyl boronic esters, and strategies for accessing axially chiral homoallenyl boronic esters are still scarce. Here, we report the general method for synthesizing axially chiral α-boryl-homoallenyl boronic esters through a highly regio- and stereoselective copper-mediated S_N2’-addition of newly prepared (diborylalkyl)copper species to chiral propargyl electrophiles. The reaction conditions were optimized to achieve high yields and excellent stereospecificity. The obtained products were successfully transformed into various axially chiral allenes and other chiral molecules by transforming diboron units. The potential for axial-to-central chirality transfer of axially chiral α-boryl-homoallenyl boronic esters is also demonstrated through the stereospecific addition to aldehydes and N-H aldimines, yielding enantioenriched 1,2-oxaborinin-3,5-dienes and 2-aminomethyl-1,3-dienes.