Iron dihydride complex as the pre-catalyst for efficient hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones under visible light activation

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/adsc.201000676

A general and efficient hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones into the corresponding alcohols using the well-defined bis(diphenylphosphinoethane)iron dihydride complex as the pre-catalyst is reported using polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) as the reducing silylating agent and sodium tetraethoxyborate [NaB(OEt)₄] as a co-catalyst under visible light irradiation. The low catalyst loadings (0.1-1 mol%), the amount of economical hydride source, PMHS and the unconventional way of activation of the pre-catalyst make this new approach attractive.