Zinc catalyzed chemoselective hydrofunctionalization of cyanamides.

The zinc-catalyzed hydrosilylation and hydroboration of cyanamides have been described. Chemoselective reduction of cyanamides with Ph2SiH2 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.