Catalytic activation of trichlorosilane for efficient and stereoselective reduction of ketones

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)01554-3

Some kinds of N-formyl cyclic amine derivatives were found to be effective activators for trichlorosilane to reduce ketones. Namely, a catalytic amount of these activators were sufficient to complete the reduction of ketones with trichlorosilane, and the reduction of ketones by trichlorosilane with optically active activators gave enantiomerically enriched sec-alcohols in some extent of optical yields (up to 51% ee).