New catalyst systems for iron-catalyzed hydrosilane reduction of carboxamides

A heptanuclear iron carbonyl cluster, [Fe(3)(CO)(11)(mu-H)](2)Fe(DMF)(4) (4), is found to be a highly efficient catalyst for the reduction of various carboxamides by 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzene (BDSB), which makes possible reducing the amount of the catalyst, shortening the reaction time, and lowering the reaction temperatures.