Rhodium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes as catalysts for the hydrosilylation of aromatic ketones with triethylsilane

Abstract

New rhodium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes were synthesized in good yields by the reactions of rhodium dimer [Rh(OMe) COD](2) with two equivalent of 1,3-dialkylimidazolinium chloride salts in tetrahydrofuran. All of the complexes were characterized using elemental analysis, H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy. These complexes were used as catalysts in the hydrosilylation of acetophenone derivatives with triethylsilane at 80 degrees C for h. These Rh(I)-NHC complexes showed the good catalytic performance for the hydrosilylation of acetophenone derivatives and the corresponding hydrosilylation products were obtained in moderate to good yields by using 1 mol% of the rhodium complex.