Cyclopentadienyl-NHC iron complexes for solvent-free catalytic hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones

Abstract

Seven cyclopentadienyl-NHC piano-stool iron complexes were prepared and studied in the catalytic hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones under visible light irradiation. A significant acceleration of the rate was observed when the reactions were carried out under solvent-free conditions. Single-crystal X-ray structural analyses were performed for complexes 5 and 7. Cp-NHC piano-stool iron complexes were found to be efficient catalysts for the hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones under solvent-free conditions and by activation by light irradiation. An acceleration of the rate of the reaction was observed under neat conditions relative to those for the reactions in toluene or THF. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.