Unprecedented organocatalytic reduction of lignin model compounds to phenols and primary alcohols using hydrosilanes

The first metal-free reduction of lignin model compounds is described. Using inexpensive Et3SiH, PMHS and TMDS hydrosilanes as reductants, alpha-O-4 and beta-O-4 linkages are reduced to primary alcohols and phenols under mild conditions using B(C6F5)(3) as an efficient catalyst.