[Ru(phgly)2(binap)]/Li2CO3: A Highly Active, Robust, and Enantioselective Catalyst for the Cyanosilylation of Aldehydes

The right combination: A series of aromatic, heteroaromatic, aliphatic, and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes can be converted into the desired silylated cyanohydrins by reaction with (CH3)3SiCN and a catalyst system consisting of the combination of a chiral ruthenium complex and Li2CO3 (see scheme). The reaction is highly enantioselective and affords the R products with up to 98 % ee within 24 h at a substrate-to-catalyst ratio of 10 000:1.