Transition metal -catalyzed double silylation and germylation with 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)carborane and 1,2-bis(dimethylgermyl)carborane

Abstract

The reaction of 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)carborane 1 with Ni(PEt 3) 4 yielded the cyclic bis(silyl)nickel complex 7. Compound 7 was found to be a good catalyst for the double silylation reaction of alkynes, alkenes, aldehydes, and nitriles. The reaction of 1,2-bis(dimethylgermyl)carborane 2 with Ni(PEt 3) 4 afforded the reactive intermediate, [ o-(GeMe 2) 2C 2B 10H 10]Ni(PEt 3) 2 41. The facile double germylation of unsaturated organic substrates catalyzed by 41 afforded novel class of heterocyclic compounds. The 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)- and 1,2-bis(dimethylgermyl)carborane also reacted with palladium and platinum complexes to give the corresponding cyclic bis(silyl) or bis(germyl)metal complexes, which were found to be good catalysts in the double-silylation and germylation reactions.