Direct Reductive Deoxygenation of Aryl Ketones Catalyzed by Oxo-Rhenium Complexes

The first methodology for the direct reductive deoxygenation of ketones catalyzed by high-valent oxo-rhenium complexes by using a silane as reducing agent is described. The systems PhSiH3/[ReOCl3(SMe2)(OPPh3)] (2mmol/5mol%) and PhSiH3/[ReOCl3(PPh3)(2)] (2mmol/5mol%) proved to be efficient for the deoxygenation of aryl ketones, producing selectively the corresponding alkane, or a mixture of alkane and alkene derivatives with the alkane as the major product.