Catalytic Alkene Hydroboration Mediated by Cationic and Formally Zwitterionic Rhodium(I) and Iridium(I) Derivatives of a P,N-Substituted Indene

Abstract

Cationic ( 2a, b ) and formally zwitterionic ( 3a, b ) Rh(I) and Ir(I) complexes supported by P,N-substituted indene or indenide ligands (respectively) have been employed in the selective hydroboration of substituted vinylarenes with pinacolborane (HBpin, pin = 1,2-O 2 C 2 Me 4 ). Notably, 3a, b exhibited remarkably high, but differing, selectivities in the hydroboration of 1-phenylpropene.