Chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective iron-catalysed hydroboration of alkenes and alkynes.

The highly chemo-, regio-, and stereoselective synthesis of alkyl- and vinyl boronic esters with good functional group tolerance has been developed using in situ activation of a bench-stable iron(II) pre-catalyst and pinacolborane (16 examples, 45-95% yield, TOF up to 30,000 mol h(-1)). The first iron-catalysed alkene hydrogermylation is also reported.