Catalytic hydrosilylation of oxalic acid: chemoselective formation of functionalized C2-products

Abstract

Oxalic acid is an attractive entry to functionalized C₂-products because it can be formed by C–C coupling of two CO₂ molecules under electrocatalytic reduction. Herein, we describe the first attempts to reduce oxalic acid by catalytic hydrosilylation. Using B(C₆F₅)₃ as a Lewis acidic catalyst, oxalic acid can be converted to reduced C₂-molecules, with high chemoselectivity, under mild reaction conditions.