Silanes PhSiHs

Polyphenylsilane, (PhSiH) , can be derivatized by free-radical hydrosilylation in the presence of a radical initiator. Alkenes, ketones and aldehydes react readily, to replace up to 93% of the Si-H bonds. This route can be employed to make polysilanes with hydrophilic groups, such as hydroxy, amino and carboxylic acid functions.43 Dialkylamino substituted polysilanes, made by the anionic polymerization of masked disilenes (see equation (17)), when treated with acetyl chloride give chloro-substituted poly silanes. The chlorine can then be displaced by other nucleophiles.27... 

We recently reported the reaction of PhSiH or CySiH (Cy = cyclohexyl) with Pt(PEt3)2Cl2 and sodium which produces Pt-Si 4MR of novel structure and oligomeric silanes. We have extended our work on this reaction and find that TolSiH (Tol = para-tolyl) also undergoes a similar transformation. A byproduct of all these reactions appears to be finely divided platinum (Eq.l). The oligomeric silanes are largely dimeric or trimeric. 

Cp2ZrX2 (X tie,H) catalyse the dehydrogenative coupling of 1 and 2 silanes to give disilanes, while PhSiH- gives CCp-ZrfSiHjPhX/t-H)] in solution, and... 

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