Solvent-free Zn (NSNO) complex-catalysed dihydroboration of nitriles

N-donors are the most commonly employed Lewis bases in ligand-assisted catalysis. A dimeric zinc complex (Zn-1) employing a tetradentate pyridine-thioether-anitido-aryloxide NSNO ligand (L) effects the quantitative conversion of nitrites to the corresponding double hydroborated products at 1 mot% catalyst loading. Variable Time Normalization Analysis kinetic studies showed a first-order dependence with respect to the nitrite, pinacolborane and zinc and clear evidence for catalyst deactivation. A plausible ligand-assisted reaction pathway involves B-H bond activation by the aryloxide (vs. anilido) donor.

Automated summary

In this study, a new catalyst for esterification reaction was discovered, and the reaction mechanism was explored. The catalyst demonstrated high efficiency in converting nitrites to double hydroborated products.