Peripheral mechanism of a carbonyl hydrosilylation catalysed by an SiNSi iron pincer complex.

ABSTRACT: Combined experimental and theoretical analysis of the carbonyl hydrosilylation catalysed by an iron(0) pincer complex reveals an unprecedented mechanism of action. The iron(0) complex is in fact a precatalyst that is converted into an iron(ii) catalyst through oxidative addition of a hydrosilane. Neither the hydrogen atom nor the silicon atom bound to the iron(ii) centre are subsequently transferred onto the carbonyl acceptor, instead remaining at the sterically inaccessible iron(ii) atom throughout the catalytic cycle. A series of labelling, crossover and competition experiments as well as the use of a silicon-stereogenic hydrosilane as a stereochemical probe suggest that the iron(ii) site is not directly involved in the hydrosilylation. Strikingly, it is the silyl ligand attached to the

SUBMITTER: Metsanen TT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5951209 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature