Arylsilanes, and Alkynylsilanes

Electrophilic substitutions of alkenyl-, aryl-, and alkynylsilanes with heteroatom-stabilized cationic carbon species generated by the action of a Lewis or Brpnsted acid (acyl cation, oxocarbenium ion, etc.) provide powerful methods for carbon-carbon bond formation. Particularly, intramolecular reactions of alkenylsilanes with oxocarbenium and iminium ions are very valuable for stereoselective construction of cyclic ether and amine units.21-23 For example, the BFj OEt -promoted reaction of (E)- and (Z)-alkenylsilanes bearing an acetal moiety in the alkenyl ligand gives 2,6-disubstituted dihydropyrans in a stereospecific manner (Scheme l).23 Arylsilanes also can be utilized for a similar cyclization.24... 

A subsidiary approach involves nuclear modification of the arylsilanes so obtained. The requisite organometallics can be prepared from aryl halides, or by deprotonation of a suitably activated (c.g. methoxy-substituted) arene. A more specialized route involves cycloaddition between alkynylsilanes and diynes. 

Synthetic reactions involving activation of alkenyl- and arylsilanes by copper salts have also been reported. A copper-mediated system is effective in the cross-coupling reaction of aryl- and heteroarylsilanes with aryl halides under Pd-free conditions (Equation (13)).66 Alkenyl- and arylsilanes as well as alkynylsilanes undergo homocoupling in the presence of Cul and air.65,65a Functionalized alkenyl- and arylsilanes bearing a coordination site in the vicinity of silicon (e.g., 7) are easily activated by copper salts even at room temperature (Scheme 5).67,67l 67e 68 q-jle organocoppers such as 8 are useful for carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction with carbon electrophiles. 

We have found that alkynylsilanes are smoothly converted into alkynylcopper compounds by treatment with CuCl in l,3-dimethyl-2-imidazohdinone (DMI) the copper reagents can be isolated in good yields [563]. This study was the first example of preparation and isolation of organocopper compounds by use of organosilicon reagents. The Si-Cu transmetalation is applicable to the synthesis of alkynyl ketones by Cu-catalyzed alkynylation of acid chlorides (Scheme 10.217). We have also shown that a Cu-mediated system is effective in the cross-coupling reaction between arylsilanes or heteroarylsilanes and aryl hahdes [564]. 

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