Low-valent magnesium(i)-catalyzed cyanosilylation of ketones.

The magnesium(i) complex [(XylNacnac)Mg]2 was employed as a highly efficient catalyst for the cyanosilylation of a variety of ketones with trimethylsilyl cyanide under mild conditions. In contrast to the traditional stoichiometric use of magnesium(i) complexes, 1 provides the first example of a truly catalytic application of Mg(i) complexes.