Elias Feghali and Thibault Cantat
Chem. Commun., 2014,50, 862-865
DOI:
10.1039/C3CC47655C,
Communication
The first metal-free reduction of lignin model compounds is described. Using inexpensive Et3SiH, PMHS and TMDS hydrosilanes as reductants, α-O-4 and β-O-4 linkages are reduced to primary alcohols and phenols under mild conditions using B(C6F5)3 as an efficient catalyst.