CeO2–nanocubes as efficient and selective catalysts for the hydroboration of carbonyl groups

The CeO2–nanoparticle catalysed hydroboration of carbonyl compounds with HBpin (pin = OCMe2CMe2O) is reported to afford the corresponding borate esters in excellent yield. A series of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes and ketones having synthetically important functional groups were well-tolerated under mild reaction conditions. Further, chemoselective hydroboration of aldehydes over other reducible functional groups such as ketone, nitrile, hydroxide, alkene, alkyne, amide, ester, nitro, and halides was achieved. Importantly the catalyst can be recycled up to ten runs with slight loss in activity.