A Versatile Iridium(III) Metallacycle Catalyst for the Effective Hydrosilylation of Carbonyl and Carboxylic Acid Derivatives

Abstract : A versatile iridium(III) metallacycle catalyses rapidly and selectively the reduction of a large array of challenging esters and carboxylic acids as well as various ketones and aldehydes. Reactions proceed with high yields at room temperature through hydrosilylation followed by desilylation. Whether the reaction of various aldehydes and ketones results exclusively in alcohols, the hydrosilylation of esters leads to alcohols or ethers depending on the type of substrate. Regarding the carboxylic acids, the nature of the reagent controls also the outcome of the hydrosilylation reaction, either alcohols or aldehydes being formed.