Reaction of Silyl(carbonyl)iron Complexes with LiAlH4 Giving Methylsilanes: Reduction of a Carbonyl Ligand and Coupling with a Silyl Group

Abstract

Abstract Treatment of CpFe(CO)2SiR3 (R3 = (pTol)2H, (pTol)2Me, MePh(1-Nap); 1-Nap = 1-naphthyl) with LiAlH4 in ether or THF at room temperature gave CH3SiR3 as a major product in moderate to high yield. The labeling experiments using LiAlD4 and CpFe(13CO)2SiR(pTol)2 (R = H, Me) proved unambiguously that the carbonyl ligand is reduced with LiAlH4 and coupled with the silyl group to give the methylsilane.