Structural Elucidation of Silver(I) Amides and Their Application As Catalysts in the Hydrosilylation and Hydroboration of Carbonyls

This study details the isolation and characterisation of three novel silver(I) amides in solution and solid-state, [Ag(Cy P)(HMDS)] 2, [Ag(Cy P){N(TMS)(Dipp)}] 3 and [Ag(Cy P) (NPh )] 4. Their catalytic abilities have proved successful in hydroboration and hydrosilylation reactions with a full investigation performed with complex 2. Both protocols proceed under mild conditions, displaying exceptional functional-group tolerance and chemoselectivity, in excellent conversions at competitive reaction times. This work reveals the first catalytic hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones performed by a silver(I) catalyst.