Nonracemic homopropargylic alcohols via asymmetric allenylboration with the robust and versatile 10-TMS-9-borabicyclo[3.3.2]decanes

The asymmetric allenylboration of representative aldehydes with the stable, storable 1 is reported. Easily and efficiently prepared in either enantiomeric form from the air-stable crystalline 4 through simple Grignard procedures, 1 gives 6 cleanly. The latter is easily isolated in high yield and ee with predictable stereochemistry. The procedure also regenerates 4 for its direct conversion back to 1 and facilitates the efficient recovery of the pseudoephedrine. The net process is the synthetic equivalent of the asymmetric addition of allenylmagnesium bromide to aldehydes.