Tri(pentaflurophenyl)borane-catalyzed reduction of cyclic imides with hydrosilanes: Synthesis of pyrrolidines

B(C6F5)3-catalyzed hydrosilylation of cyclic imides afforded an efficient synthetic method of pyrrolidines. In the presence of 5 mol% B(C6F5)3, various aromatic, aliphatic and polycyclic imides were smoothly reduced by PhSiH3 to generate the corresponding pyrrolidines in high yields. The reaction profiles monitored by 1H NMR spectroscopy disclosed the reduction process of cyclic imides and the effect of difference structure of the hydrosilanes on the hydrosilylation.