Scandium-catalyzed highly selective deoxygenation of alcohols using hydrosilanes as reductants

Herein, we present a straightforward and efficient scandium-based catalytic system that enables highly selective reduction of σ bonds (C–O) in the presence of more reactive π (C=O) or O–H bonds. Employing 5 mol% of Sc(OTf)3 as the catalyst, a diverse range of aryl and alkyl hydrosilanes proved to be highly effective in reducing secondary and tertiary alcohols to the corresponding alkanes. Furthermore, this protocol was extended to the deoxygenation of ketones and the hydrodehalogenation of alkyl halides.