Mononuclear Aluminum Complexes as Precursors for Cyanosilylation of Carbonyl Compounds

The synthesis, structural characterization, and catalytic application of two novel aluminum complexes, [ κ 3 ENSe −{Ph 2 P(E)N−C 6 H 4 −SePh}AlMe 2 ] [E=S ( 1 ) and Se ( 2 )] supported by new pincer‐type phenylselenium‐phosphanamidinate chalcogenide ligands are described. The molecular structures of both complexes in their solid states reveal a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry around the Al(III) ion, involving monoanionic ligand {Ph 2 P(E)N−C 6 H 4 −SePh} − bonded to the AlMe 2 ‐motif in a tridentate manner. Complex 1 was found to be an effective pre‐catalyst for the cyanosilyation of aldehydes and ketones with TMSCN under solvent‐free conditions. The reaction protocol is simple, efficient, and has a diverse substrate scope of aldehydes and ketones, showing superior functional group tolerance. The kinetic study revealed that ketone reduction proceeded with first‐order dependence on ketone concentrations, TMSCN, and catalyst 1 .