Hydrosilanes Are Not Always Reducing Agents for Carbonyl Compounds, II: Ruthenium-Catalyzed Deprotection of tert-Butyl Groups in Carbamates, Carbonates, Esters, and Ethers
Hydrosilanes act as a reagent to cleave the C–O bond of OtBu groups in carbamates, carbonates, esters, and ethers by catalysis of a triruthenium cluster. The reaction offers a novel deprotection method for OtBu groups under neutral conditions, showing unique selectivities that have never been accomplished with conventional Bronsted or Lewis acidic promoters. Possible mechanisms for C–O cleavage are