Reduction of antides to amines via catalytic hydrosilylation by a rhodium complex

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)10804-8

Reduction of a wide range of tertiary amides with 2 molar equivalents of diphenylsilane was promoted by 0.1 mol% of RhH(CO)(PPh₃)₃ at room temperature, affording the corresponding tertiary amines in high yields. The synthetic utility is demonstrated by chemoselective reductions of amides having functional groups such as ester and epoxy groups which are not tolerated by the conventional reductions with LiAlH₄ and BH₃.