Switchable Synthetic Strategy toward Trisubstituted and Tetrasubstituted Exocyclic Alkenes.

An efficient and facile method for the construction of tri- or tetrasubstituted exocyclic alkenes is achieved via a Cu(I)-catalytic system. This protocol exhibits mild conditions, low-cost catalyst, good functional group tolerance, and good yields. The selectivity toward tri- or tetrasubstituted alkenes can be delicately controlled by adjustment of base and solvent. A preliminary mechanism study manifested that the reaction undergoes a radical process, where B2 pin2 plays an indispensable role.