A Cobalt-Containing Polysilane as an Effective Solid-State Catalyst for the Hydrosilylation of Alkenes

A cobalt-containing polysilane was readily obtained from the treatment of poly(monohydro)silane with Co2(CO)8 at 60 degrees C. The resulting polysilane-supported cobalt catalyst (Co/Si catalyst) acts as a solid-state catalyst that exhibits good catalytic performance toward the hydrosilylation of various alkenes with hydrosiloxanes, such as 1,1,1,3,3-pentamethyldisiloxane. Suitable alkenes for this catalysis include functionalized alkenes such as allyl glycidyl ether and vinylsiloxanes as well as multiply functionalized alkenes such as triallylisocyanurate. The Co/Si catalyst can be recycled multiple times, and recycling is accomplished by simple centrifugation. It is noteworthy that this Co/Si system also catalyzes the modification of a silicone fluid and cross-linking between poly(monohydro)siloxanes and polysiloxanes that bear vinyl functionalities to afford silicone polymers, which are industrially important reactions.