Small molecule activation by boron-containing heterocycles

Most of the chemical and biological processes involving the fixation and transformation of small molecules have long been exclusive for metal complexes. Meanwhile, the last decades have seen a significant advance in main group chemistry that mimics transition-metal complexes, among which various boron-containing systems have been successful in mediating the small molecule activation. In this review, we focus on boron-containing heterocycles enabling the activation of sigma- and pi-bonds in small molecules, in conjunction with the proposed mechanisms.