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.