Metal‐Free HB(C₆F₅)₂‐Catalyzed Hydrogenation of Unfunctionalized Olefins and Mechanism Study of Borane‐Mediated σ‐Bond Metathesis

Abstract

Out with the metal: Metal-free hydrogenation of unfunctionalized olefins can be achieved by employing HB(C6F5)2 as the catalyst. The key step in the catalytic reaction is believed to involve a novel borane-mediated σ-bond metathesis, which has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically.