Hydroboration reactions using transition metal borane and borate complexes: an overview

In recent years, the chemistry of transition metal borane and borate complexes has advanced fast with reasonable growth. Frequent utilisation of these complexes in hydrofunctionalisation reactions is one of the key driving forces for their development. As a result, the important role of borate complexes in the hydroboration/hydrosilylation/hydroamination of unsaturated organic species has been successfully demonstrated together with the isolation of many different boron-containing transition metal complexes such as borataallyl, vinylborane, silyl complexes featuring the known bonding modes of boron. Both the uncatalysed and catalysed hydroboration reactions using the transition metal borane/borate complexes are known, which show these complexes' huge potential. Careful investigation and fine-tuning of the electronic and steric properties of the borane/borate ligands has facilitated the synthesis of these transition metal complexes which are convenient for use in the hydroboration reactions. Furthermore, the systematic development of this field has established the connection between the structure and reactivity of these complexes and their utilisation in hydroboration reactions. This Frontier sheds light on the recent developments that have been made with hydroboration reactions using transition metal borane/borate complexes. Also, in this Frontier we have provided meaningful synthetic methods to make new boron-containing transition metal complexes together with mechanistic insights for some of these reactions.

Automated summary

In recent years, there has been significant progress in the chemistry of transition metal borane and borate complexes, particularly in their application in hydrofunctionalisation reactions. This article highlights the important role of these complexes in the hydroboration/hydrosilylation/hydroamination of unsaturated organic species and the isolation of various boron-containing transition metal complexes. Both catalysed and uncatalysed hydroboration reactions using these complexes have shown great potential. Understanding the electronic and steric properties of the borane/borate ligands has facilitated the synthesis of transition metal complexes for use in hydroboration reactions.