Palladium-NHC complexes do catalyse the diboration of alkenes: mechanistic insights

Novel catalytic activation of the B–B bond by palladium(II)–NHC complexes in presence of a mild base (NaOAc) and an excess of diboron reagent enables chemoselective 1,2-diboration of alkenes, suggesting the heterolytic cleavage of diboron rather than oxidative addition of a B–B bond to the metal.