Diborative Reduction of Alkynes to 1,2-Diboryl-1,2-Dimetalloalkanes: Its Application for the Synthesis of Diverse 1,2-Bis(boronate)s

Reduction of alkynes with alkali metals in the presence of B2pin2 results in diboration of alkynes. Distinct from conventional dissolving metal hydrogenations, two carbon–boron bonds and also two carbon–alkali metal bonds can be constructed in one operation to form 1,2-diboryl-1,2-dimetalloalkanes. The 1,2-diboryl-1,2-dimetalloalkanes generated are readily convertible to a wide range of vicinal bis­(boronate)­s. In particular, oxidation of the 1,2-dianionic species provides (E)-1,2-diborylalkenes, unique anti-selective diboration of alkynes being thus executed.