Copper-catalyzed enantioselective 1,2-borylation of 1,3-dienes

A highly enantioselective Cu-catalyzed borylation of 2-substituted 1,3-dienes is reported. The use of a chiral phosphanamine ligand is essential in achieving high chemo-, regio-, diastereo- and enantioselectivity. It provides access to a variety of homoallylic boronates in consistently high yield and enantiomeric excess with 2-aryl and 2-heteroaryl 1,3-dienes as well as sterically demanding 2-alkyl 1,3-dienes. Preliminary investigations based on a non-linear effect study point to a mechanism involving more than one metal center.