Ligand-controlled remarkable regio- and stereodivergence in intermolecular hydrosilylation of internal alkynes: experimental and theoretical studies

J Am Chem Soc. 2013 Sep 18;135(37):13835-42. doi: 10.1021/ja405752w. Epub 2013 Sep 10.

Abstract

The first highly efficient ligand-controlled regio- and stereodivergent intermolecular hydrosilylations of internal alkynes have been disclosed. Cationic ruthenium complexes [Cp*Ru(MeCN)3](+) and [CpRu(MeCN)3](+) have been demonstrated to catalyze intermolecular hydrosilylations of silyl alkynes to form a range of vinyldisilanes with excellent but opposite regio- and stereoselectivity, with the former being α anti addition and the latter β syn addition. The use of a silyl masking group not only provides sufficient steric bulk for high selectivity but also leads to versatile product derivatizations toward a variety of useful building blocks. DFT calculations suggest that the reactions proceed by a mechanism that involves oxidative hydrometalation, isomerization, and reductive silyl migration. The energetics of the transition states and intermediates varies dramatically with the catalyst ligand (Cp* and Cp). Theoretical studies combined with experimental evidence confirm that steric effect plays a critical role in governing the regio- and stereoselectivity, and the interplay between the substituent in the alkyne (e.g., silyl group) and the ligand ultimately determines the observed remarkable regio- and stereodivergence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkynes / chemistry*
  • Catalysis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Structure
  • Ruthenium / chemistry
  • Silanes / chemistry*
  • Stereoisomerism

Substances

  • Alkynes
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Ligands
  • Silanes
  • Ruthenium