“Constrained geometry” catalysts of the rare-earth metals for the hydrosilylation of olefins

Abstract

A series of yttrium and lutetium alkyl complexes [Ln(η 5-C 5Me 4ZNR′-κN)(CH 2SiMe 3)(THF) n ] (Ln = Y, Lu) was prepared by reacting the tris(trimethylsilylmethyl) precursor [Ln(CH 2SiMe 3) 3(THF) 2] with different linked amino-cyclopentadienes of the type (C 5Me 4H)ZNHR′ (Z = SiMe 2, CH 2SiMe 2; R′ = tBu, Ph, C 6H 4- tBu-4, C 6H 4- nBu-4). The catalytic activity of these alkyl complexes in the hydrosilylation of 1-decene and styrene using PhSiH 3 as reagent was examined under standard conditions. A significant influence of the ligand structure on the catalytic property (turnover frequency, regioselectivity) was observed with the yttrium complex [Y(η 5-C 5Me 4CH 2SiMe 2N tBu-κN)(CH 2SiMe 3)(THF)] being the most active for 1-decene hydrosilylation.