Hydroboration of aldehydes, ketones and CO2 under mild conditions mediated by iron(iii) salen complexes.

The hydroboration of aldehydes, ketones and CO2 is demonstrated using a cheap and air stable [Fe(salen)]2-μ-oxo pre-catalyst with pinacolborane (HBpin) as the reductant under mild conditions. This catalyst system chemoselectively hydroborates aldehydes over ketones and ketones over alkenes. In addition, the [Fe(salen)2]-μ-oxo pre-catalyst shows good efficacy at reducing "wet" CO2 with HBpin at room temperature.