Implication of a Silyl Cobalt Dihydride Complex as a Useful Catalyst for the Hydrosilylation of Imines

Here,
we describe the formation and use of silyl cobalt (III) dihydride
complexes as powerful catalysts for the hydrosilylation of a variety
of imines starting from a low-valent well-defined cobalt (I) complex.
The reaction is efficient at low catalyst loadings with a diverse
range of imines bearing various protecting groups, as well as aliphatic
ketimines and quinoline. Kinetics, DFT calculations, NMR spectroscopic
studies, deuteration experiments, and X-ray diffraction analyses allowed
us to propose a catalytic cycle based on silyl dihydrocobalt (III)
complexes performing a hydrocobaltation.