Catalytic hydroboration of vinylarenes using a zwitterionic arylspiroboronate ester iridium complex

Addition of B(2)cat(3) (cat=1,2-O2C6H4) to Ir(acac)(dppb) (1; where dppb=1,4-bis(diphenylphosphino) butane) gave the novel arylspiroboronate ester iridium complex Ir(eta(6)-catBcat)(dppb) (2), the first example of an iridium compound containing a coordinating [Bcat(2)](-) anion. Complex 2 is a remarkably selective catalyst precursor for the hydroboration of unhindered vinylarenes using pinacolborane. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.