Secondary-Sphere Preorganization by an NHC-Pyridonate Ligand Enables Nickel-Catalyzed Hydroboration of Nitriles

Herein, we describe nickel-catalyzed nitrile hydroboration with pinacolborane, wherein a tethered pyridonate ligand enables efficient catalysis (5 mol% [Ni], ≤6 h reaction time) at room temperature. Mechanistic studies, including isolation of the catalytically relevant intermediates, shed light on the cooperative role of the NHC-pyridonate ligand in the reaction.