Metal catalyzed tandem Diels–Alder/hydrolysis reactions of 2-boron-substituted 1,3-dienes

2-Boron substituted 1,3-dienes have been prepared and used in experiments to demonstrate that it is possible to effect metal catalyzed Diels–Alder/hydrolysis tandem reactions. The boron substituted dienes are treated with dienophiles in toluene:alcohol solutions with rhodium or copper salt catalysts and heated to effect Diels–Alder reactions of the boron substituted dienes followed by hydrolysis of the boron-carbon bond in the Diels–Alder cycloadducts.