Functionalized geminal-diborylalkanes from various electron-deficient alkynes and B2pin2

An environmentally benign and convenient method is developed to access a variety of functionalized geminal-diborylalkanes from various electron-deficient alkynes and B(2)pin(2). The reactions proceed via the Domino-Borylation-Protodeboronation (DBP) strategy under mild conditions with high regioselectivity, high chemoselectivity, broad functional group tolerance as well as high yields. Meanwhile, further applications of the gem-diboronate products have been explored by silver-catalyzed deboronation-difluorination, base-mediated protodeboronation as well as deborylative secondary alkylation of 2-phenylpyridine N-oxides.