Effect of catalyst structure on the reaction of α-methylstyrene with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane

Abstract

Reaction of α-methylstyrene with 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane in the presence of the complexes of platinum(II), palladium(II) and rhodium(I) is explored. It is established that in the presence of platinum catalyst predominantly occurs hydrosilylation of α-methylstyrene leading to formation of β-adduct, on palladium catalysts proceeds reduction of α-methylstyrene, on rhodium catalysts both the processes take place. In the reaction mixture proceeds disproportion and dehydrocondensation of 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane that leads to formation of long chain linear and cyclic siloxanes of general formula HMe2Si(OSiMe2)nH and (-OSiMe2-)m (n = 2–6, m = 3–7), respectively. Platinum catalysts promotes formation of linear siloxanes, while both rhodium and palladium catalysts afford linear and cyclic siloxanes as well. Structure of intermediate metallocomplexes is studied.