Abstract Recently, we described the first inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reaction of 1, 2-diazene catalyzed by a bidentate Lewis acid. Herein we investigate 1, 2- phenylenediboronic esters as potential catalysts for this transformation offering higher stability and easier handling than the currently used boranthracene derivatives. Different 1, 2- phenylenediboronic esters were prepared and their ability to form bidentate coordination ...