Platinum(II) olefin hydroarylation catalysts: tuning selectivity for the anti-Markovnikov product.

Pt(II) complexes containing unsymmetrical (pyridyl)pyrrolide ligands are shown to catalyze the hydroarylation of unactivated alkenes with selectivity for the anti-Markovnikov product. Substitution on the pyrrolide portion of the ligand allows effective tuning of the selectivity to anti-Markovnikov alkylarene products, whereas substitution on the pyridyl portion can promote competitive alkenylarene production.