Platinum catalysed 3,4- and 1,4-diboration of alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds using bis-pinacolatodiboron.

Bis-pinacolatodiboron reacts with [small alpha],[small beta]-unsaturated carbonyl compounds to give 1,4- and unprecedented 3,4-additions in the presence of a second generation Pt(0) catalyst at ambient temperature.