Monodefluoroborylation of polyfluoroalkenes has been achieved in a regioselective manner under mild conditions via copper catalysis. The method has shown an extremely broad scope of substrates, including (difluorovinyl)arenes, tetrafluoroethylene (TFE), (trifluorovinyl)arenes, and trifluoromethylated monofluoroalkenes. The choice of boron source was important for the efficient transformation of (difluorovinyl)arenes; (Bpin)2 was suitable for substrates with an electron-deficient aryl group and (Bnep)2 for those with an electron-rich aryl group. Derivatization of the (fluoroalkenyl)boronic acid esters to the corresponding potassium trifluoroborate salts has rendered the products easily isolable, which greatly improved the synthetic practicality of the monodefluoroborylation reaction. Stoichiometric experiments indicate that the fate of the regioselectivity depends on the mode of β-fluorine elimination, which depends on the substrate. Further transformation of the boryl group has allowed facile preparation of fluoroalkene derivatives as exemplified by the synthesis of a fluoroalkene mimic of atorvastatin, which potently inhibited the enzyme activity of HMG-CoA reductase.

A facile method for preparing diverse aryne–nickel complexes from readily synthesized ortho-borylaryl triflates is described. Exploratory synthetic applications, including the synthesis of 1,2-difunctionalized arenes, based on the nucleophilic character of the aryne–nickel complexes are also demonstrated.

Rhodium-catalyzed transformation of alkyl aryl sulfides into arylboronic acid pinacol esters via C–S bond cleavage is reported. In combination with transition-metal-catalyzed sulfanyl group-guided regioselective C–H borylation reactions of alkylthioarenes, this method allows the synthesis of a diverse range of multisubstituted arenes.

A convenient method for the stereoinversion of secondary alcohols, applicable to stereocongested carbocyclic substrates, is reported. A simple three-step procedure, including triflylation of the hydroxy group, nucleophilic oxygenative displacement by the treatment with aqueous N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), and methanolysis, allowed for efficient stereoinversion of various substrates, including sugar derivatives, in one pot.

Ni/Cu-catalyzed transformation of fluoroarenes to arylboronic acid pinacol esters via C–F bond cleavage has been achieved. Further versatile derivatization of an arylboronic ester has allowed for the facile two-step conversion of a fluoroarene to diverse functionalized arenes, demonstrating the synthetic utility of the method.