Asymmetric hydrosilylation of prochiral ketones in the presence of N ‐benzyl‐ N ‐methylephedrinium halometallates

N ‐benzyl‐ N ‐methylephedrinium hexachloroplatinate(IV), bromotrichlororhodate(III), and dibromodichlorozincate(II) have been synthesized by reacting (—)‐ N ‐benzyl‐ N ‐methylephedrinium bromide with K 2 PtCl 6 , RhCl 3 · 4H 2 O and ZnCl 2 , respectively. The above halometallates have been found to catalyse the asymmetric hydrosilylation of acetophenone and 3‐acetylpyridine with diphenylsilane. The hydrosilylation of 3‐acetylpyridine in the presence of (—)‐ N ‐benzyl‐ N ‐methylephedrinium zincate followed by silyl ether hydrolysis gives 1‐(3‐pyridyl)ethanol in ca 50% optical yield.