Catalytic synthesis of silyl formates with 1 atm of CO2 and their utilization for synthesis of formyl compounds and formic acid

In the presence of simple Rh-2(OAc)(4) and K2CO3, the hydrosilylation of CO2 (1 atm) with various hydrosilanes efficiently proceeded to afford the corresponding silyl formates in moderate to high yields (53-90% yields). By using the dimethylphenylsilyl formate produced by the hydrosilylation, formamides, formic acid, and a secondary alcohol (via an aldehyde) could be synthesized by the reaction with various nucleophilic reagents such as amines, aniline, water, and the Grignard reagent. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.