Silicon Hydrides and Molybdenum(O) Catalyst: A Novel Approach for Conjugate Reduction of α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00388a042

A novel reducing system comprised of phenylsilane and catalytic amounts of Mo(CO)6 in refluxing THF efficiently effects conjugate reduction of Michael acceptors, including α,β-unsaturated ketones, carboxylic acids, carboxylic esters, amides, and nitriles.The process involves molybdenum-catalyzed hydrosilation, followed by hydrolysis of the intermediate silyl enol ether.Hydride is regioselectively transferred from the hydridosilane to the β-carbon of the substrate, and a proton from water is incorporated into the α-carbon.