INVESTIGATION OF THE REGIOSELECTIVITY OF ALKENE HYDROSILYLATION CATALYZED BY ORGANOLANTHANIDE AND GROUP-3 METALLOCENE COMPLEXES

The regioselectivity of monosubstituted alkene hydrosilylation catalyz ed by organolanthanide and group 3 organometallic complexes has been s tudied as a function of catalyst structure. A wide variety of catalyst variations were shown to be compatible with the hydrosilylation proce ss. Several novel complexes were synthesized to widen the scope of thi s investigation. The results show complexes containing larger lanthani de metal ions and reduced substitution on the cyclopentadienyl ligands produce increased yields of the secondary silane product. Several com plexes were identified that are highly selective for primary silane ge neration.