Sodium Triethylborohydride-Catalyzed Controlled Reduction of Unactivated Amides to Secondary or Tertiary Amines

The first transition-metal-free catalytic protocol for controlled reduction of amide functions using cheap and bench-stable hydrosilanes as reducing agents has been established. By altering the hydrosilane and solvent, the new method enables the selective cleavage of unactivated C-O bonds in amides and allows the C-N bonds to selectively break via the deacylated cleavage. Overall, this novel process may offer a versatile alternative to current methodologies employing stoichiometric metal systems for the controlled reduction of carboxamides.