Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of Ketones Catalyzed by Zinc Acetate with Hindered Pybox Ligands

A highly efficient asymmetric hydrosilylation (AHS) of a wide variety of prochiral aryl ketones catalyzed by zinc acetate with TPS-he-pybox (tert-butyldiphenylsilyl hydroxyethyl pybox) ligand has been successfully developed. Cheap and readily available chiral Lewis acids based on zinc salts have been used as promising catalyst for the reduction of aryl ketones under mild conditions at room temperature leading to chiral alcohols in excellent yields and good to high enantioselectivities (up to 85% ee).