A comparative analysis of hydrosilative amide reduction catalyzed by first-row transition metal (Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) N-phosphinoamidinate complexes.

A comparative study of the performance of (PN)M(N(SiMe3)2) (M = Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) pre-catalysts supported by N-phosphinoamidinate ligation, as well as M(N(SiMe3)2)n (M = Li, Na, K, Mn, Fe, and Co) pre-catalysts, in the hydrosilative reduction of selected tertiary amide test substrates using PhSiH3 is reported. Encouraged by the performance observed herein for (PN)Ni(N(SiMe3)2) in the reduction of both N,N-dibenzylbenzamide and N,N-diisopropylbenzamide, further competitive testing involving the known complex (PN)Ni(NHdipp) (dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl), as well as the new and crystallographically characterized mononuclear complexes (PN)Ni(OR) (R = 2,6-dimethylphenyl or tBu), revealed (PN)Ni(OtBu) to be particularly effective in such reduction chemistry, including transformations involving the secondary amides N-benzylbenzamide and caprolactam.