Rhodium-Catalyzed Deoxygenation and Borylation of Ketones: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Investigation.

The rhodium-catalyzed deoxygenation and borylation of ketones with B2pin2 have been developed, leading to efficient formation of alkenes, vinylboronates, and vinyldiboronates. These reactions feature mild reaction conditions, a broad substrate scope, and excellent functional-group compatibility. Mechanistic studies support that the ketones initially undergo a Rh-catalyzed deoxygenation to give alkenes via boron enolate intermediates, and the subsequent Rh-catalyzed dehydrogenative borylation of alkenes leads to the formation of vinylboronates and diboration products, which is also supported by density functional theory calculations.