Highly selective synthesis of substituted (E)-alkenylsilatranes via catalytic trans-silylation and mechanistic implications

Dalton Trans. 2017 Apr 11;46(15):4975-4981. doi: 10.1039/c7dt00201g.

Abstract

A new route for the synthesis of functionalized alkenylsilatranes has been developed based on ruthenium-catalyzed trans-silylation with olefins. This transformation allowed for the synthesis of new (E)-alkenylsilatranes in good yields and excellent selectivity. Experimental studies concerning the reaction mechanism were carried out and the intermediate ruthenium-silatranyl complex was isolated and characterized. Moreover, detailed DFT calculations regarding the mechanism of the silylative coupling catalytic cycle of silatranes catalyzed by [Ru]-H complexes were also performed.