10.1039/b919407j
The study investigates the platinum-catalysed diborylation of arynes to synthesise 1,2-diborylarenes, which are challenging to produce using conventional methods. Arynes are inserted into bis(pinacolato)diboron [(pin)B–B(pin)] bonds using a platinum–isocyanide catalyst, yielding diverse 1,2-diborylarenes. These compounds can then be converted into o-terphenyls via Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions. The research explores the optimisation of the catalyst, finding that Pt(dba)2 combined with 1-adamantyl isocyanide (1-AdNC) is most effective. Various arynes, including those with different substituents, are tested in the diborylation process, producing the corresponding diborylarenes in high yields. The synthetic utility of these diborylarenes is demonstrated through their coupling with aryl halides to form ortho-terphenyls, including both symmetrical and unsymmetrical variants, highlighting the potential for creating structurally diverse compounds with pharmacological relevance.