Hydroboration/Oxidation of Alkenes: Hydration

Hydroboration: Addition of BH₃ to Alkenes

• Non-Markovnikov syn-addition
• Stereochemistry is controlled by sterics and electronics.
  Sterics - BH₃ prefers to be at the least crowded carbon
  Electronics -Partial positive character is favored at the more substituted carbon.
• Rearrangements don't occur, rearrangements only occur with carbocation intermediates.
• Evidence in favor of this mechanism is anti-Markovnikov addition and syn-addition
  product.

Oxidation of the C-BH₂ bonds results in the formation of a non-Markovnikov alcohol