Molybdenum(0)-Catalyzed Reductive Dehalogenation of α-Halo Ketones with Phenylsilane

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00234a012

Reductive dehalogenation of α-halo ketones and esters is effectively achieved by using a novel reducing system comprised of phenylsilane and catalytic amounts of molybdenum hexacarbonyl and triphenylphosphine.Reactions are carried out at 60-80 deg C in variety of solvents, including THF, benzene, toluene, and diglyme.With respect to α-halo carbonyl reduction, this combination of Mo(0) and phenylsilane is superior to our previously described palladium (0)/diphenylsilane system and produces higher yields and cleaner products.