Regiochemical control in the metal-catalyzed transposition of allylic silyl ethers.

A novel mode of regiochemical control over the allylic [1,3]-transposition of silyloxy groups catalyzed by Re2O7 has been developed. This strategy relies on a cis-oriented vinyl boronate, generated from the Alder-ene reaction of homoallylic silyl ethers and alkynyl boronates, to trap out the allylic hydroxyl group. The resulting cyclic boronic acids are excellent partners for cross-coupling reactions. High chirality transfer is observed for the rearrangement of enantioenriched allylic silyl ethers.