Hydrosilane Reduction of Nitriles to Primary Amines by Cobalt-Isocyanide Catalysts

Reduction of nitriles to silylated primary amines was achieved by combination of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane (TMDS) as the hydrosilane and a catalytic amount of Co(OPiv)(2) (Piv = (COBu)-Bu-t) associated with isocyanide ligands. The resulting silylated amines were subjected to acid hydrolysis or treatment with acid chlorides to give the corresponding primary amines or imides in good yields. One-pot synthesis of primary amides to primary amines with hydrosilanes was also achieved by iron-cobalt dual catalyst systems.