Stereospecific alkenylation of carboranes: copper-catalyzed access to pyridylcarboranyl alkenes

-alkenylcarboranes are accessible by this protocol, among which the latter are difficult to access by existing methods. The synthetic utility of this methodology was demonstrated by the late-stage modification of amino acids, sugars, and drug molecules. Furthermore, the synthesized carboranylethylene scaffolds exhibit aggregation-induced emission and bright solid-state luminescence, with quantum yields reaching 67%. Thus, this work unveils a Cu(i)/Cu(iii) catalytic model for the C-H activation of carboranes and establishes pyridylcarborane-alkene hybrids as a new class of functional, bioisosteric architectures.