Reduction of carbonyl compounds via hydrosilylation. I. Hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds catalyzed by tris(triphenylphosphine)chlororhodium

The hydrosilylation of various carbonyl compounds such as simple aldehydes, simple ketones, α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, α-diketones, acyl cyanides and ketones having an electron-withdrawing group on the α-carbon using tris(triphenylphosphine)chlororhodium as a catalyst is described. Solvolysis of these silyl ethers and silyl enol ethers afforded the corresponding reduced products. The hydrosilylation of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds was found to proceed by 1,4-addition. An oxidative adduct of triethylsilane to the rhodium-(I) complex was obtained as a reaction intermediate. The structure of the adduct was discussed on the basis of its IR and far-IR spectra.