Straightforward synthesis of chiral non-racemic α-boryl isocyanides.

A straightforward concise synthesis of chiral non-racemic aliphatic α-boryl isocyanides, relay intermediates for boron-based bioactive molecules in multicomponent reactions, is presented. The short synthetic sequence comprises as key steps copper-catalysed asymmetric borylation of imines, simultaneous nitrogen formylation/boron-protecting group interconversion and the final formamide dehydration reaction.