Synthetic utility of 1,1,2,2-tetraaryldisilanes: radical reduction of alkyl phenyl chalcogenides

Reactivity of tetraaryldisilanes as radical reducing agents of alkyl phenyl chalcogenides initiated by Et3B or AIBN was studied. Here, the reactivity of alkyl sulfide was poor; however, various alkyl phenyl selenides and tell urides were reduced to the corresponding hydrocarbons in good yields with 1 ,1,2,2-tetraphenyldisilane.