Synthesis of Chiral Tertiary Boronic Esters: Phosphonate-Directed Catalytic Asymmetric Hydroboration of Trisubstituted Alkenes

Highly enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed hydroboration of allylic phosphonates by pinacolborane affords chiral tertiary boronic esters. The β-borylated phosphonates are readily converted to chiral β- and γ-hydroxyphosphonates and aminophosphonates and to phosphonates bearing a quaternary carbon stereocenter. The utility of the latter is illustrated by the synthesis of (S)-(+)-bakuchiol methyl ether.