Cu(I)-Catalyzed Enantioselective Hydrosilylation of Aromatic Ketones

Significance

In the presence of a Cu(I)/BINAP catalyst and hydrosilane, various ketones were enantioselectively converted into the corresponding silyl ether, which upon hydrolysis afforded chiral secondary alcohols. The reaction generally gives high yields and ee values, but is limited to aromatic ketones. Kinetic experiments determined that the reaction is first-order in catalyst, silane and ketone, offering some insight into the true active catalyst.