COMPLETELY SELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF (E)-BETA-(TRIETHYLSILYL)STYRENES BYFE3(CO)12-CATALYZED REACTION OF STYRENES WITH TRIETHYLSILANE

Using Fe3(CO)12 as the catalyst, the reaction of styrenes (C6H5CH=CH2, p-CH3C6H4CH=CH2, p-ClC6H4CH=CH2, and P-CH3OC6H4CH=CH2) with triethyls ilane gave (E)-beta-(triethylsilyl)styrenes (2a, (E)-C6H5CH=CHSiEt3; 2 b, (E)-p-CH3C6H4CH=CHSiEt3; 2c, (E)-p-ClC6H4CH=CHSiEt3; 2d, (E)-p-CH3O C6H4CH=CHSiEt3) in 66-89% yields with complete selectivity. Similarly, Fe2(CO)9 also catalyzed dehydrogenative silylation again, with comple te selectivity but in low yields. The reaction of styrene with treithy lsilane, catalyzed by Os3(CO)12, gave a mixture of the corresponding v inylsilane (dehydrogenative silylation product) and alkylsilane (hydro silylation product).