Efficient reductive dehydration of primary amides to nitriles catalyzed by hydrido thiophenolato iron(II) complexes under hydrosilation conditions.

The reductive dehydration of amides to nitriles under hydrosilation conditions with hydrido thiophenolato iron(II) complexes [ cis -Fe(H)(SAr)(PMe 3 ) 4 ] ( 1 – 4 ) as catalysts is reported using (EtO) 3 SiH as an efficient reducing agent in the yields up to 93%. The merits of this catalytic system, the low catalyst loadings (2 mol%) and the amount of efficient reducing agent (EtO) 3 SiH, make this method more attractive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]