Lanthanide aryloxides catalyzed hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones

The lanthanide aryloxides Ln(OAr) 3 (THF) 2 (Ar = Ar-1 = 2,6-Bu-t(2)-4-MeC6H2, Ln = Yb (1), Y (2); Ar = Ar-2 = 2,6(t)Pr(2)C(6)H(3), Ln = Y (3); Ar = Ar-3 = 2,6-Me2C6H3, Ln = Y (4); Ar = Ar-1, Ln = Sm (5), Nd (6)) could be served as highly efficient catalysts for the hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones with good functional group tolerance and excellent chemoselectivity. Computational studies were carried out to probe a feasible mechanism of the Ln-aryloxides catalyzed hydroboration of aldehydes/ketones.