Earth-abundant transition metal catalysts for alkene hydrosilylation and hydroboration

The addition of a silicon-hydrogen or a boron-hydrogen bond across a carbon-carbon multiple bonds is a well-established method for the introduction of versatile silane and borane functional groups to base hydrocarbon feedstocks. Transition metal catalysis, historically with precious second- and third- row transition metals, has been used to broaden the scope of the hydrofunctionalization reaction, improve reaction rate and enhance selectivity. The anti-Markovnikov selectivity of platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation of alkenes, for example, is an enabling synthetic technology in the multibillion-dollar silicones industry. Increased emphasis on sustainable catalytic methods and more economic processes has shifted focus to catalysis with more earth-abundant transition metals such as iron, cobalt and nickel. This review describes contemporary approaches and offers a contextual analysis of catalytic alkene hydrosilylation and hydroboration reactions using first-row transition metals. Emphasis is placed on defining advances in the field, what constitutes catalyst cost, safety, and important design features to enable precious metal-like reactivity, as well as new chemistry that is unique to first-row transition metals.