Hydrostannation of norbornadiene by nBu3SnH and Ph3SnH with molybdenum catalysts

Photochemically activated [Mo(CO)6] and [Mo(CO)4(η4-nbd)] are demonstrated to be good catalysts for the hydrostannation of norbornadiene (nbd) by stannyl hydrides (nBu3SnH and Ph3SnH) to give stannylnorbornene in ca. 100% yield. The reaction was carried out at room temperature in n-heptane (20 cm3) with continued photolysis (2 h) at Mo(CO)6: R3SnH:nbd = 1:50:50.