Cobalt-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroboration/Cyclization of 1,6-Enynes with Pinacolborane.

We report a cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric hydroboration/cyclization of 1,6-enynes with catalysts generated from Co(acac)2 and chiral bisphosphine ligands and activated in situ by reaction with pinacolborane (HBpin). A variety of oxygen-, nitrogen-, and carbon-tethered 1,6-enynes underwent this asymmetric transformation, yielding both alkyl- and vinyl-substituted boronate esters containing chiral tetrahydrofuran, cyclopentane, and pyrrolidine moieties with high to excellent enantioselectivities (86%-99% ee).