Zinc catalyzed chemoselective hydrofunctionalization of cyanamides.

The zinc-catalyzed hydrosilylation and hydroboration of cyanamides have been described. Chemoselective reduction of cyanamides with Ph 2 SiH 2 and partial or complete hydroboration of cyanamides with pinacolborane (HBpin) have been successfully carried out. The active catalyst/intermediate in the catalytic reactions, i.e. , the bis-guanidinate zinc amidinate compound, has been isolated and structurally characterized.