Zinc Hydride-Catalyzed Hydrofuntionalization of Ketones

Three new dimeric bis-guanidinate zinc­(II) alkyl, halide, and hydride complexes [LZnEt]2 (1), [LZnI]2 (2) and [LZnH]2 (3) were prepared. Compound 3 was successfully employed for the hydrosilylation and hydroboration of a vast number of ketones. The catalytic performance of 3 in the hydroboration of acetophenone exhibits a turnover frequency, reaching up to 5800 h–1, outperforming that of reported zinc hydride catalysts. Notably, both intra- and intermolecular chemoselective hydrosilylation and hydroboration reactions have been investigated.