Triethylsilane (TES)

Introduction

Triethylsilane (TES or Et₃SiH) is a versatile reagent in organic chemistry that can be used primarily as a hydride source in a series of reduction reactions, including etherification of carbonyls, [¹] aldol reactions, [²] conversion of aliphatic carboxyl derivates in hydrocarbons, [³] and reduction of organic azides to amines [4] and nitro groups to hydroxyl­amines or amines. [5] TES also has great potential for use in radical reactions, performing as an alternative to the toxic Bu₃SnH as hydrogen source. [6] Recently, TES was shown to be a good reagent for generating hydrogen in situ on catalytic surfaces, [7] leading to successful hydrogenation reactions without the use of the dangerous hydrogen gas.

References

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