Transition-Metal-Free Homologative Cross-Coupling of Aldehydes and Ketones with Geminal Bis(boron) Compounds

We report a transition-metal-free coupling of aldehydes and ketones with geminal bis(boron) building blocks which provides the coupled, homologated carbonyl compound upon oxidation. This reaction not only extends an alkyl chain containing a carbonyl group, it also simultaneously introduces a new carbonyl substituent. We demonstrate that enantiopure aldehydes with an enolizable stereogenic center undergo this reaction with complete retention of stereochemistry.