Hydroboration of Terminal Alkenes and trans‐1,2‐Diboration of Terminal Alkynes Catalyzed by a Manganese(I) Alkyl Complex

A Mn^I-catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkenes and a 1,2-diboration of terminal alkynes with pinacolborane (HBPin) is described. For alkenes, anti-Markovnikov hydroboration takes place; for alkynes the reaction proceeds with excellent trans-1,2-selectivity. The most active pre-catalyst is bench-stable alkyl bisphosphine Mn^I complex fac-[Mn(dippe)(CO)₃(CH₂CH₂CH₃)]. The catalytic process is initiated by migratory insertion of a CO ligand into the Mn-alkyl bond to yield an acyl intermediate, which undergoes B-H bond cleavage of HBPin (for alkenes) and rapid C-H bond cleavage (for alkynes), forming the active Mn^I boryl and acetylide catalysts [Mn(dippe)(CO)₂(BPin)] and [Mn(dippe)(CO)₂(C≡CR)], respectively. A broad variety of aromatic and aliphatic alkenes and alkynes was efficiently and selectively borylated. Mechanistic insights are provided based on experimental data and DFT calculations revealing that an acceptorless reaction is operating involving dihydrogen release.