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Earth-abundant transition metal catalysts for alkene hydrosilylation and hydroboration

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Abstract

The addition of X3Si–H or X2B–H (X = H, OR or R) across a C–C multiple bond is a well-established method for incorporating silane or borane groups, respectively, into hydrocarbon feedstocks. These hydrofunctionalization reactions are often mediated by transition metal catalysts, with precious metals being the most commonly used owing to the ability to optimize reaction scope, rates and selectivities. For example, platinum catalysts effect the hydrosilylation of alkenes with anti-Markovnikov selectivity and constitute an enabling technology in the multibillion dollar silicones industry. Increased emphasis on sustainable catalytic methods and on more economic processes has shifted the focus to catalysis with more earth-abundant transition metals, such as iron, cobalt and nickel. This Review describes the use of first-row transition metal complexes in catalytic alkene hydrosilylation and hydroboration. Defining advances in the field are covered, noting the chemistry that is unique to first-row transition metals and the design features that enable them to exhibit precious-metal-like reactivity. Other important features, such as catalyst activity and stability, are covered, as are practical considerations, such as cost and safety.

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Fig. 1: Olefin hydrosilylation and hydroboration afford different products but can proceed through mechanistically similar routes.
Fig. 2: Pt-catalysed hydrosilylation is an important process in the manufacture of many everyday items.
Fig. 3: The hydrosilylation of commercially important substrates can be effected using earth-abundant metal catalysts, which can exhibit rates and selectivities exceeding those of Pt catalysts.
Fig. 4: Overcoming practical limitations in base-metal-catalysed hydrosilylation.
Fig. 5: Pyridine(diimine)Co-catalysed dehydrogenative silylation.
Fig. 6: Proposed mechanism for alkene hydrosilylation with (α-diimine)Ni complexes.
Fig. 7: Transition-metal-catalysed hydroboration enables new opportunities for fine chemical synthesis.
Fig. 8: Hydroboration is mediated by a variety of precious metal catalysts, each of which can exhibit a different selectivity.
Fig. 9: New reactivity enabled by Co and Cu catalysts.
Fig. 10: New reactivity enabled by earth-abundant metal catalysts.
Fig. 11: Proposed mechanisms in base-metal-catalysed alkene and terminal alkyne hydroboration explaining new reactivity.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Princeton University for financial support. J.V.O. acknowledges the Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Student Research Fellowship and the 2016 Harold W. Dodds Honourific Fellowship (awarded by the Graduate School at Princeton University).

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Obligacion, J.V., Chirik, P.J. Earth-abundant transition metal catalysts for alkene hydrosilylation and hydroboration. Nat Rev Chem 2, 15–34 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-018-0001-2

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