A cationic aluminium complex: an efficient mononuclear main-group catalyst for the cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds

Abstract

A structurally characterized cationic aluminium complex [(AT)Al(DMAP)]⁺[OTf]⁻ (3) stabilized through a relatively nonbulky aminotroponate (AT) ligand is reported (DMAP = 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine). This compound was found to work as an excellent mononuclear main-group catalyst of the cyanosilylation of a variety of aldehydes and ketones. Loadings of 1 to 2 mol% of this catalyst consumed these substrates in just 5 to 30 min at room temperature.