Cobalt-catalyzed reduction of esters to alkanes

Abstract

The reduction of aryl carboxylates to methyl and allyl arene was attained using a well-defined cobalt catalyst. This catalytic transformation employs only a sub-stoichiometric amount of base, and diethylsilane as a reductant. Catalytic activation of the Si–H bond of the silanes, C–O bond of the ester, and silyl ether intermediates by cobalt is crucial to achieving exhaustive reduction.