Scandium(III) Triflate-Catalyzed Reductive Etherification of Carbonyl Compounds with Alcohols Using 1,1,3,3-Tetramethyldisiloxane as the Reducing Agent

In this study, we present a straightforward protocol for the reductive etherification of carbonyl compounds with alcohols using a catalytic amount of scandium (III) triflate (Sc(OTf)3) and 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane to produce unsymmetrical ethers. The reaction proceeded under mild room temperature conditions and accommodated a broad range of substrates, including α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, yielding the desired products in good to excellent yields. Notably, the catalyst loading of Sc(OTf)3 was reduced to 0.1 mol%.