Hydrosilanes are not always reducing agents for carbonyl compounds but can also induce dehydration: A ruthenium-catalyzed conversion of primary amides to nitriles

A practical procedure for production of nitriles is offered by the triruthenium carbonyl cluster catalyzed dehydration of primary carboxamides with hydrosilanes under neutral conditions. This is the first example that a transition-metal-catalyzed activation of Si-H bonds does not lead to the reduction of carbonyl compounds but to dehydration. Possible mechanisms for the dehydration is discussed on the basis of NMR spectroscopic detection of intermediary species.