FLP-Catalyzed Transfer Hydrogenation of Silyl Enol Ethers

Abstract

Herein we report the first catalytic transfer hydrogenation of silyl enol ethers. This metal free approach employs tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TMP) as a commercially available FLP catalyst system and naturally occurring γ-terpinene as a dihydrogen surrogate. A variety of silyl enol ethers undergo efficient hydrogenation, with the reduced products isolated in excellent yields (29 examples, 82 % average yield).