Phosphine-catalyzed cage carbon functionalization of o-carborane: facile synthesis of alkenylcarboranes

Abstract

A phosphine-catalyzed alkenylation reaction of o-carborane with electron-deficient alkynes at the C–H vertex of the o-carborane cage has been developed, which led to the preparation of a series of 1-alkenyl-o-carboranes in moderate to very good yields with excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. This highly efficient and simple method represents the first example of organophosphine catalyzed C–H functionalization of o-carborane.