P(i-PrNCH2CH2)3N: an efficient catalyst for TMS-1,3-dithiane addition to aldehydes

Herein we report the use of commercially available P(i-PrNCH2CH2)3N (1a) as an efficient catalyst for 2-trimethylsilyl-1,3-dithiane (TMS–dithiane) addition to aldehydes at room temperature. The catalyst loading required for these reactions (5 mol %) is the lowest recorded in the literature, and the majority of the reaction times for this transformation are the shortest thus far reported. A variety of functional groups are tolerated on the aryl aldehyde substrates.