Lanthanide aryloxides catalyzed hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones

The lanthanide aryloxides Ln(OAr)3(THF)2 (Ar = Ar1 = 2,6-tBu2-4-MeC6H2, Ln = Yb (1), Y (2); Ar = Ar2 = 2,6-iPr2C6H3, Ln = Y (3); Ar = Ar3 = 2,6-Me2C6H3, Ln = Y (4); Ar = Ar1, Ln = Sm (5), Nd (6)) could be served as highly efficient catalysts for the hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones with good functional group tolerance and excellent chemoselectivity. Computational studies were carried out to probe a feasible mechanism of the Ln-aryloxides catalyzed hydroboration of aldehydes/ketones.