Efficient and Selective Hydrosilylation of Carbonyl Compounds Catalyzed by Iron Acetate and N-Hydroxyethylimidazolium Salts

Aromatic aldehydes, along with aryl alkyl, heteroaryl alkyl, and dialkyl ketones were efficiently reduced to their corresponding primary and secondary alcohols, respectively, in high yields, using the commercially available and inexpensive polymeric silane, polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS), as reducing agent. The reaction is catalyzed by in situ generated iron complexes containing hydroxyethyl-functionalized NHC ligands. Turnover frequencies up to 600 h-1 were obtained.