Cobalt-catalyzed asymmetric hydroboration of aryl ketones with pinacolborane

The highly enantioselective cobalt-catalyzed hydroboration reaction of aryl ketones with HBpin was developed using iminopyridine oxazoline ligands. Halides, amines, ethers, sulfides, esters and amides are well tolerated under the mild reaction conditions, demonstrating its synthetic advantage. Substituted diaryl ketones could also be hydroborated with high enantioselectivity.