Selective hydrosilylation of ketones catalyzed by in situ-generated iron NHC complexes

Aryl alkyl-, heteroaryl alkyl- and dialkyl ketones were readily reduced to their corresponding secondary alcohols in high yields, using the commercially available and inexpensive polymeric silane polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS), as reducing agent. The reaction is catalyzed by an in situ-generated iron complex, conveniently generated from iron(II) acetate and the commercially available N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursor IPr·HCl.