Metal-free deprotonative functionalization of heteroaromatic compounds was achieved using an organic superbase catalyst; an organosilicon additive such as trimethylsilylpropyne was employed for activating the catalytic cycle of 1,2-addition to carbonyl compounds.
Metal-Lewis acid cooperation provides new opportunities in catalysis. In this work, we report a new type of palladium-boranecooperation involving anionic Pd0 species. The air-stable DPB palladium complex 1 (DPB=diphosphine-borane) was prepared and reacted with KH to give the Pd0 borohydride 2, the first monomeric anionic Pd0 species to be structurally characterized. The boron moiety acts as an acceptor