Catalytic alkene hydroboration mediated by cationic and formally zwitterionic rhodium(I) and iridium(I) derivatives of a P,N-substituted indene

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-O2C2Me4). Notably, 3a, b exhibited remarkably high, but differing, selectivities in the hydroboration of 1-phenylpropene.