Iridium-Catalyzed Hydrosilylative Reduction of Glucose to Hexane(s)

Abstract

In light of diminishing petroleum feedstocks, there is significant interest in developing carbohydrate defunctionalization reactions. In this context we have examined the use of iridium pincer catalysts for the hydrosilylative reduction of sugars, and we report herein complete reduction of silyl-protected glucose to a mixture of hexane isomers.