First examples of gold nanoparticles catalyzed silane alcoholysis and silylative pinacol coupling of carbonyl compounds

In this Letter, we illustrate the first catalytic application of supported Au nanoparticles in silane alcoholysis. The reaction proceeds with low amount of catalysts, under solvent free conditions for liquid substrates, without additional ligands and in a very selective way for primary alcohols in the examined cases. Additionally, a gold catalyzed silylative pinacol coupling of carbonyl compound is observed for the first time and some hypotheses about the reaction mechanism are given. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.