B(C6F5)3-catalyzed hydrosilation of imines via silyliminium intermediates

A broad range of benzaldimines and ketimines can be hydrosilated efficiently, employing B(C6F5)(3) as a catalyst in conjunction with PhMe2SiH. Spectral evidence supports the intermediacy of a silyliminium cation with a hydridoborate counterion formed via abstraction of a hydride from PhMe2SiH by B(C6F5)(3) in the presence of imines.