Carbonyl reduction with CaH2 and R3SiCl catalyzed by ZnCl2

Ketones and aldehydes were effectively reduced to the corresponding alcohols (or their silyl ethers) by the reaction with CaH2 and R3SiCl in the presence of a catalytic amount of ZnCl2. In the absence of the carbonyl substrate, the reagent reduced R3SiCl to the corresponding hydrosilane under mild reaction conditions.

Ketones and aldehydes were effectively reduced to the corresponding alcohols (or their silyl ethers) by the reaction with CaH2 and R3SiCl in the presence of a catalytic amount of ZnCl2. In the absence of the carbonyl substrate, the reagent reduced R3SiCl to the corresponding hydrosilane under mild reaction conditions.