Base-catalyzed diborylation of alkynes: synthesis and applications of cis-1,2-bis(boryl)alkenes

An efficient, transition-metal free, and practical approach to cis-bis(boryl)alkenes from various alkynes was disclosed in the presence of a catalytic amount of K_2CO_3 under mild conditions. Meanwhile, tetrasubstituted alkenes and phenanthrene derivatives were readily constructed from the target diborylalkenes via Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling.