Borondiketonatecomplexes were synthesized via a one-pot method. The method focused on the selective synthesis of unsymmetric borondiketonate by involving BF3–OEt2 and β-ketothiolester intermediates generated in situ from α-aroylketene dithioacetals using p-toluenesulfonic acid as a catalyst. The unsymmetrical borondiketonatecomplexes are emissive both in solution and in the solid state with high
Theα-oxoketene dithioacetals are shown to undergo conjugate 1,4-reduction in highly regio- and chemoselective manner with sodium borohydride in acetic acid to afford the corresponding β-oxodithioacetals in good yields. These results have been rationalized according to HSAB principle in terms of 'hard soft affinity inversion' concept. The reduction of with sodium cyanoborohydride also proceeds in 1