Microwave-assisted one-pot diboration/Suzuki cross-couplings. A rapid route to tetrasubstituted alkenes

Internal and terminal alkynes undergo rapid platinum(0)-catalyzed diboration with bis(pinacolato)diboron in dioxane to yield cis-1,2-bis(boryl)alkenes under sealed vessel microwave conditions. Subsequent addition of aryl bromides, base and a palladium catalyst to the reaction vial followed by resubjection to microwave conditions provides tetrasubstituted ethylenes in high yields via Suzuki cross-coupling of the boron intermediates.