Catalytic Carboborations

Transition-metal-catalyzed carboborations, in which organic and boryl groups are introduced concomitantly to unsaturated organic molecules, have been developed. Direct carboborations, which proceed via activation of B-C bonds of cyanoboranes and alkynylboranes, and transmetalative carboborations, in which activation of B-Cl bonds is followed by transmetalation from organotin and organozirconium reagents, are overviewed. In addition, as representative results and mechanistic considerations, the scientific background and a personal view behind the study are also described. (C) 2010 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 10: 348-358; 2010: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.201000029