Hydroboration and hydrosilylation of alkenes catalyzed by an unsymmetrical magnesium methyl complex.

The hydroboration and hydrosilylation of alkenes catalyzed by the unsymmetrical β-diketiminate magnesium methyl complex [(Nacnac)MgMe (THF)] (1) have been reported. When complex 1 was employed as a highly efficient catalyst in the hydroboration of various alkenes with HBpin, only the -Markovnikov hydroboration products were obtained in high yields and with high regioselectivities under mild reaction conditions (60 °C). To our surprise, it showed different regioselectivities in the hydrosilylation of a range of alkenes with PhSiH.