Hydrosilylation of ketones catalyzed by tricarbonyl(naphthalene)manganese cation

The naphthalene manganese complex [(eta(6)-C10H8)Mn(CO)(3)]BF4 (1) has been used as an effective catalyst for the hydrosilylation of ketones to give t he corresponding sec-alcohols in high yields after hydrolysis. The yields f or aryl ketones are dependent on the reaction medium with the highest in CH 2Cl2 and the steric bulkiness and electronic properties of substituents. As the steric bulkiness increases, the yield decreases and as the electron-do nating ability of the substituent on the substrate increases, the yield inc reases. Catalytic activity of 1 is explained by the ring slippage eta(6) -- > eta(4). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.