An efficient transition-metal-free
protocol for the hydroboration
of aldehydes and ketones (reduction) was developed. The hydroboration
of a wide range of aldehydes and ketones with pinacolborane (HBpin)
under the K2CO3 catalyst has been studied. The
reaction system is practical and reliable and proceeds under extremely
mild and operationally simple conditions. No prior preparation of
the complex metal catalyst was required, and hydroboration occurred
stoichiometrically. Further, the chemoselective reduction of aldehydes
over ketones was carried out. Moreover, we demonstrated the use of
K2CO3 as an efficient catalyst for the hydroboration
of alkenes. The operational simplicity, inexpensive and transition-metal-free
catalyst, and the applicability to gram-scale synthesis strengthen
its potential applications for hydroboration (reduction) at an industrial
scale.