A bis(imino)pyridine cobalt-catalyzed hydroboration of terminal alkynes with HBPin (Pin = pinacolate) with high yield and (Z)-selectivity for synthetically valuable vinylboronate esters is described. Deuterium labeling studies, stoichiometric experiments, and isolation of catalytically relevant intermediates support a mechanism involving selective insertion of an alkynylboronate ester into a Co-H bond, a pathway distinct from known precious metal catalysts where metal vinylidene intermediates have been proposed to account for the observed (Z) selectivity. The identity of the imine substituents dictates the relative rates of activation of the cobalt precatalyst with HBPin or the terminal alkyne and, as a consequence, is responsible for the stereochemical outcome of the catalytic reaction.

A comprehensive study into the mechanism of bis(phosphino)pyridine (PNP) cobalt-catalyzed C-H borylation of 2,6-lutidine using B2Pin2 (Pin = pinacolate) has been conducted. The experimentally observed rate law, deuterium kinetic isotope effects, and identification of the catalyst resting state support turnover limiting C-H activation from a fully characterized cobalt(I) boryl intermediate. Monitoring the catalytic reaction as a function of time revealed that borylation of the 4-position of the pincer in the cobalt catalyst was faster than arene borylation. Cyclic voltammetry established the electron withdrawing influence of 4-BPin, which slows the rate of C-H oxidative addition and hence overall catalytic turnover. This mechanistic insight inspired the next generation of 4-substituted PNP cobalt catalysts with electron donating and sterically blocking methyl and pyrrolidinyl substituents that exhibited increased activity for the C-H borylation of unactivated arenes. The rationally designed catalysts promote effective turnover with stoichiometric quantities of arene substrate and B2Pin2. Kinetic studies on the improved catalyst, 4-(H)2BPin, established a change in turnover limiting step from C-H oxidative addition to C-B reductive elimination. The iridium congener of the optimized cobalt catalyst, 6-(H)2BPin, was prepared and crystallographically characterized and proved inactive for C-H borylation, a result of the high kinetic barrier for reductive elimination from octahedral Ir(III) complexes.

Combination of the readily available α-diimine ligand, ((ArNC­(Me))2 Ar = 2,6-iPr2–C6H3), (iPrDI) with air-stable nickel­(II) bis­(carboxylates) generated a highly active catalyst exhibiting anti-Markovnikov selectivity for the hydrosilylation of alkenes with a variety of industrially relevant tertiary alkoxy- and siloxy-substituted silanes. A combination of the method of continuous variations with stoichiometric studies identified the formally Ni­(I) hydride dimer, [(iPrDI)­NiH]2 as the nickel compound formed following reduction of the carboxylate ligands. For the hydrosilylation of 1-octene with (EtO)3SiH, a rate law of [Ni]1/2[1-octene]­[(EtO)3SiH] in combination with deuterium-labeling studies establish dissociation of the nickel hydride dimer followed by fast and reversible alkene insertion into (iPrDI)­NiH, consistent with turnover-limiting C–Si bond formation. The hydrosilylation of 1-octene with triethoxysilane, a reaction performed commercially in the silicones industry on a scale of >5 000 000 kg/year, was conducted on a 10 g scale with 96% yield and >98% selectivity for the desired product. Silicone cross-linking, another major industrial application of homogeneous hydrosilylation, was also demonstrated using the air-stable nickel and ligand precursors.

Cobalt alkyl complexes bearing readily available and redox-active 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine and α-diimine ligands have been synthesized, and their electronic structures have been elucidated. In each case, the supporting chelate is reduced to the monoanionic, radical form that is engaged in antiferromagnetic coupling with the cobalt­(II) center. Both classes of cobalt alkyls proved to be effective for the isomerization–hydroboration of sterically hindered alkenes. An α-diimine-substituted cobalt allyl complex proved exceptionally active for the reduction of hindered tri-, tetra-, and geminally substituted alkenes, representing one of the most active homogeneous catalysts known for hydroboration. With limonene, formation of an η3-allyl complex with a C–H agostic interaction was identified and accounts for the sluggish reactivity observed with diene substrates. For the terpyridine derivative, unique Markovnikov selectivity with styrene was also observed with HBPin.

The addition of carbon dioxide to ((tBu)PNP)CoH [(tBu)PNP = 2,6-bis(di-tert-butylphosphinomethyl)pyridine] resulted in rapid insertion into the Co-H bond to form the corresponding κ(1)-formate complex, which has been structurally characterized. Treatment of ((tBu)PNP)CoH with PhSiH3 resulted in oxidative addition to form trans-((tBu)PNP)CoH2(SiH2Ph), which undergoes rapid exchange with excess free silane. With 0.5 mol % ((tBu)PNP)CoH, the catalytic hydrosilylation of CO2 with PhSiH3 to a mixture of oligomers containing silyl formate, bis(silyl)acetyl, and silyl ether subunits has been observed.