Gold nanoparticles-catalyzed activation of 1,2-disilanes: hydrolysis, silyl protection of alcohols and reduction of tert-benzylic alcohols

Gold nanoparticles supported on TiO2 catalyze under mild conditions the activation of a series of 1,2-disilanes towards hydrolysis and alcoholysis, with concomitant evolution of H-2 gas. For the case of tert-benzyl alcohols, the main or only pathway is reduction to the corresponding alkanes.