Custom Hydrosilane Synthesis Based on Monosilane

From Quaternary Carbon to Tertiary C(sp3)-Si and C(sp3)-Ge Bonds: Decyanative Coupling of Malononitriles with Chlorosilanes and Chlorogermanes Enabled by Ni/Ti Dual Catalysis

Transition-metal-catalyzed C-Si/Ge cross-coupling offers promising avenues for the synthesis of organosilanes/organogermanes, yet it is fraught with long-standing challenges. A Ni/Ti-catalyzed strategy is reported here, allowing the use of disubstituted malononitriles as tertiary C(sp3) coupling partners to couple with chlorosilanes and chlorogermanes, respectively. This method enables the catalytic cleavage of the C(sp3)-CN bond of the quaternary carbon followed by the formation of C(sp3)-Si/C(sp3)-Ge bonds from ubiquitously available starting materials. The efficiency and generality are showcased by a broad scope for both of the coupling partners, therefore holding the potential to synthesize structurally diverse quaternary organosilanes and organogermanes that were difficult to access previously.

Heterodifunctionalization of Electron-Rich Alkynes Catalyzed by in Situ Generated Silylium Ions

Silylium ions are versatile Lewis acids in organic synthesis. While they have been well-known for the activation of σ donors, catalysis initiated by the activation of π donors remains underdeveloped, particularly for alkynes. Herein, we demonstrate an example of silylium-catalyzed alkyne heterodifunctionalization. The silylium ion generated in situ from HNTf2 and the silyl reagent serve as superior catalysts in the efficient silylphosphination and silylcyanation of electron-rich alkynes with excellent regio- and stereoselectivity. The compatibility of this protocol with strongly coordinating ligands (Ph2P and CN) not only complements the metal-catalyzed systems but also expands the scope of silylium-catalyzed reactions.

Arenium-ion-catalysed halodealkylation of fully alkylated silanes

'Organic silicon' is not found in nature but modern chemistry is hard to imagine without silicon bound to carbon. Although silicon-containing commodity chemicals such as those emerging from the 'direct process'1-4 look simple, it is not trivial to selectively prepare aryl-substituted and alkyl-substituted (functionalized) silicon compounds, known as silanes. Chlorosilanes such as Me4-nSiCln (n = 1-3) as well as SiCl4 (n = 4) are common starting points for the synthesis of silicon-containing molecules. Yet these methods often suffer from challenging separation problems5. Conversely, silanes with four alkyl groups are considered synthetic dead ends. Here we introduce an arenium-ion-catalysed halodealkylation that effectively converts Me4Si and related quaternary silanes into a diverse range of functionalized derivatives. The reaction uses an alkyl halide and an arene (co)solvent: the alkyl halide is the halide source that eventually engages in a Friedel-Crafts alkylation with the arene to regenerate the catalyst6, whereas the arenium ion acts as a strong Brønsted acid for the protodealkylation step7. The advantage of the top-down halodealkylation methodology over reported bottom-up procedures is demonstrated, for example, in the synthesis of a silicon drug precursor. Moreover, chemoselective chlorodemethylation of the rather inert Me3Si group attached to an alkyl chain followed by oxidative degradation is shown to be an entry into Tamao-Fleming-type alcohol formation8,9.

Controllable Si-C Bond Formation from Trihydrosilanes En Route to Synthesis of 1,4-Azasilinanes with Diverse Silyl Functionalities

A B(C6F5)3-catalyzed controllable inter/intra-/intermolecular Si-C bond formation process has been developed from trihydrosilane and dienamide with alkenes, anilines, or aryl iodides. A variety of 1,4-azasilinanes have been generated with diverse exo-cyclic heteroleptic disubstitutions on silicon, thereby expanding the range of silaazacyclic rings available for the discovery of silicon-containing drugs.

Si-B Functional Group Exchange Reaction Enabled by a Catalytic Amount of BH3: Scope, Mechanism, and Application

Functional group exchanges based on single-bond transformation are rare and challenging. In this regard, functional group exchange reactions of hydrosilanes proved to be more problematic. This is because this exchange requires the cleavage of the C-Si bond, while the Si-H bond is relatively easily activated for hydrosilanes. Herein, we report the first Si-B functional group exchange reactions of hydrosilanes with hydroboranes simply enabled by BH₃ as a catalyst. Our methodology works for various aryl and alkyl hydrosilanes and different hydroboranes with the tolerance of general functional groups (up to 115 examples). Control experiments and density functional theory (DFT) studies reveal a distinct reaction pathway that involves consecutive C-Si/B-H and C-B/B-H σ-bond metathesis. Further investigations of using more readily available chlorosilanes, siloxane, fluorosilane, and silylborane for Si-B functional group exchanges, Ge-B functional group exchanges, and depolymerizative Si-B exchanges of polysilanes are also demonstrated. Moreover, the regeneration of MeSiH₃ from polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) is achieved. Notably, the formal hydrosilylation of a wide range of alkenes with SiH₄ and MeSiH₃ to selectively produce (chiral)trihydrosilanes and (methyl)dihydrosilanes is realized using inexpensive and readily available PhSiH₃ and PhSiH₂Me as gaseous SiH₄ and MeSiH₃ surrogates.

Stepwise on-demand functionalization of multihydrosilanes enabled by a hydrogen-atom-transfer photocatalyst based on eosin Y

Organosilanes are of vital importance for modern human society, having found widespread applications in functional materials, organic synthesis, drug discovery and life sciences. However, their preparation remains far from trivial, and on-demand synthesis of heteroleptic substituted silicon reagents is a formidable challenge. The generation of silyl radicals from hydrosilanes via direct hydrogen-atom-transfer (HAT) photocatalysis represents the most atom-, step-, redox- and catalyst-economic pathway for the activation of hydrosilanes. Here, in view of the green characteristics of neutral eosin Y (such as its abundance, low cost, metal-free nature, absorption of visible light and excellent selectivity), we show that using it as a direct HAT photocatalyst enables the stepwise custom functionalization of multihydrosilanes, giving access to fully substituted silicon compounds. By exploiting this strategy, we realize preferable hydrogen abstraction of Si-H bonds in the presence of active C-H bonds, diverse functionalization of hydrosilanes (for example, alkylation, vinylation, allylation, arylation, deuteration, oxidation and halogenation), and remarkably selective monofunctionalization of di- and trihydrosilanes.

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive C(sp2 )-Si Coupling of Chlorohydrosilanes via Si-Cl Cleavage

We report here a new method for the synthesis of organohydrosilanes from phenols and ketones. This method is established through reductive C-Si coupling of chlorohydrosilanes via unconventional Si-Cl cleavage. The reaction offers access to aryl- and alkenylhydrosilanes with a scope that is complementary to those of the established methods. Electron-rich, electron-poor, and ortho-/meta-/para-substituted (hetero)aryl electrophiles, as well as cyclic and acyclic alkenyl electrophiles, were coupled successfully. Functionalities, including Grignard-sensitive groups (e.g., primary amine, amide, phenol, ketone, ester, and free indole), acid-sensitive groups (e.g., ketal and THP protection), alkyl-Cl, pyridine, furan, thiophene, Ar-Bpin, and Ar-SiMe₃ , were tolerated. Gram-scale reaction, incorporation of -Si(H)R₂ into complex biologically active molecules, and derivatization of formed organohydrosilanes are demonstrated.

Copper-Catalyzed Highly Selective Hydrosilylation of Silyl or Boryl Alkene: A Method for Preparing Chiral Geminated Disilyl and Borylsilyl Reagents

The copper-catalyzed highly selective hydrosilylation of silyl or boryl alkene has been developed. This chemistry could afford a practical method for preparing chiral geminated disilyl and borylsilyl reagents, which are useful organosilanes and versatile synthons for organic synthesis. The experimental data suggested that this reaction could be compatible with a variety of functional groups. Furthermore, the utility of the gem-dimetal compounds, which could be prepared by this chemistry, has been well illustrated by further transformations.

NiH-catalyzed C(sp3)–Si coupling of alkenes with vinyl chlorosilanes

A novel NiH-catalyzed highly selective cross-coupling of alkenes with vinyl chlorosilanes is developed. Using this practical chemistry, various benzyl organosilanes could be produced with good functional group tolerance.

Nickel-Catalyzed Reductive Cross-Coupling of Alkyl Bromides and Chlorosilanes

A novel nickel-catalyzed highly selective reductive cross-coupling of alkyl bromides and chlorosilanes to construct the C-Si bond has been developed. Under benign reaction conditions, a series of structurally interesting organosilanes can be accessed without Ni-catalyzed isomerization. The utility of this chemistry is illustrated by further transformations of the product. Moreover, the radical mechanism of the reaction is illustrated by control experiments.

Bicyclo[2.2.0]hexene derivatives as a proaromatic platform for group transfer and chemical sensing

Here we report the design, preparation, synthetic utility, and sensing application of a class of proaromatic structures, namely bicyclo[2.2.0]hexene (BCH) derivatives. Building on a valence isomerism concept, they feature modular and easy synthesis as well as high thermal stability, and can be oxidatively activated under mild conditions. New alkyl transfer reactions using BCHs as a radical donor have been developed to showcase the utility of their proaromaticity. Moreover, the redox-triggered valence isomerization of a quinoline-derived BCH led to colorimetric and fluorescent responses toward vapors of electrophilic reagents in solution and solid phase, respectively. This optical response was shown to involve a 1,3-cyclohexadiene structure that possesses an intramolecular charge transfer excited state with interesting aggregation induced emission (AIE) character. Thus, the potential of BCHs has been demonstrated as a versatile platform for the development of new reagents and functional materials.

Cyclohexadienes have been widely explored as proaromatic surrogates for group transfer reactions but limited storage stability and difficult accessibility of these compounds limits the application range. Here, the authors present a class of proaromatic bicyclo[2.2.0]hexene derivatives and demonstrate their application in alkyl transfer reactions and sensing applications.

An Electroreductive Approach to Radical Silylation via the Activation of Strong Si-Cl Bond

The construction of C(sp³)-Si bonds is important in synthetic, medicinal, and materials chemistry. In this context, reactions mediated by silyl radicals have become increasingly attractive but methods for accessing these intermediates remain limited. We present a new strategy for silyl radical generation via electroreduction of readily available chlorosilanes. At highly biased potentials, electrochemistry grants access to silyl radicals through energetically uphill reductive cleavage of strong Si-Cl bonds. This strategy proved to be general in various alkene silylation reactions including disilylation, hydrosilylation, and allylic silylation under simple and transition-metal-free conditions.

Cross-Electrophile C(sp2 )-Si Coupling of Vinyl Chlorosilanes

The cross-electrophile coupling has become a powerful tool for C-C bond formation, but its potential for forging the C-Si bond remains unexplored. Here we report a cross-electrophile Csp² -Si coupling reaction of vinyl/aryl electrophiles with vinyl chlorosilanes. This new protocol offers an approach for facile and precise synthesis of organosilanes with high molecular diversity and complexity from readily available materials. The reaction proceeds under mild and non-basic conditions, demonstrating a high step economy, broad substrate scope, wide functionality tolerance, and easy scalability. The synthetic utility of the method is shown by its efficient accessing of silicon bioisosteres, the design of new BCB-monomers, and studies on the Hiyama cross-coupling of vinylsilane products.

Stereospecific Si-C coupling and remote control of axial chirality by enantioselective palladium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of maleimides

Hydrosilylation of unsaturated carbon-carbon bonds with hydrosilanes is a very important process to access organosilicon compounds and ranks as one of the most fundamental reactions in organic chemistry. However, catalytic asymmetric hydrosilylation of activated alkenes and internal alkenes has proven elusive, due to competing reduction of carbon-carbon double bond or isomerization processes. Herein, we report a highly enantioselective Si-C coupling by hydrosilylation of carbonyl-activated alkenes using a palladium catalyst with a chiral TADDOL-derived phosphoramidite ligand, which inhibits O-hydrosilylation/olefin reduction. The stereospecific Si-C coupling/hydrosilylation of maleimides affords a series of silyl succinimides with up to 99% yield, >99:1 diastereoselectivity and >99:1 enantioselectivity. The high degree of stereoselectivity exerts remote control of axial chirality, leading to functionalized, axially chiral succinimides which are versatile building blocks. The product utility is highlighted by the enantioselective construction of N-heterocycles bearing up to three stereocenters.

Catalytic asymmetric hydrosilylation of internal alkenes has proven elusive due to more favourable double bond reduction or isomerization. Here, the authors show an enantioselective Si-C coupling by hydrosilylation of activated alkenes using a palladium/phosphoramidite catalyst affording axially chiral succinimides.

Hydrosilylation-Promoted Furan Diels-Alder Cycloadditions with Stereoselectivity Controlled by the Silyl Group

Herein we describe an unprecedented B(C₆F₅)₃-catalyzed cascade reaction of N-allyl-N-furfurylamides involving an initial intramolecular furan Diels-Alder reaction and subsequent ether cleavage. The reaction has a broad substrate scope, even tolerating a trialkyl-substituted olefin as the dienophile, which has not previously been observed with conventional furan Diels-Alder reactions. In addition, the relative configuration of the product can be controlled by the choice of the silyl group: reactions involving Et₃SiH and ⁱPr₃SiH gave different diastereomers. Control experiments and the computational studies revealed that the steric bulk of the silyl group plays a key role in determining the reaction pathway and thus the relative configuration of the product.