Rhodium catalysed dehydrogenative borylation of alkenes: vinylboronates via C-H activation

We present herein a high yield, highly selective catalytic synthesis of vinylboronate esters (VBEs), including 1,1-disubstituted VBEs, from alkenes without significant hydrogenation or hydroboration, using the simple catalyst precursor, trans-[RhCl(CO)(PPh3)2] (1), and the diboron reagents B2pin2 (2a, pin = pinacolato = OCMe2CMe2O) or B2neop2 (2b, neop = neopentylglycolato = OCH2CMe2CH2O), or the monoboron reagent HBpin, all of which are commercially available. The reactions were conducted at 80 degrees C using conventional heating, or in a microwave reactor at 150 degrees C.