Stereospecific Conversion of Boronic Esters into Enones using Methoxyallene: Application in the Total Synthesis of 10-Deoxymethynolide.

Enones are widely utilized linchpin functional groups in chemical synthesis and molecular biology. We herein report the direct conversion of boronic esters into enones using commercially available methoxyallene as a three-carbon building block. Following boronate complex formation by reaction of the boronic ester with lithiated-methoxyallene, protonation triggers a stereospecific 1,2-migration before oxidation generates the enone.