Dearomatizing and Derivatizing a Mesityl Group on Boron by One-Pot Photoisomerization and [4+2] Diels-Alder Addition.

Boron compounds having a conjugated chelate backbone (N,C-chelate or C,C-chelate) and two mesityl substituents on boron have been found to undergo a facile one-pot transformation/reaction with dienophiles, which leads to the dearomatization of one mesityl ring and its [4+2] Diels-Alder addition with the dienophile. Photochemical activation is the key in this transformation of the aryl ring.