Titanocene-catalyzed carbosilylation of alkenes and dienes using alkyl halides and chlorosilanes

A new method for regioselective carbosilylation of alkenes and dienes has been developed by the use of a titanocene catalyst. This reaction proceeds efficiently at 0 degrees C in THF in the presence of Grignard reagents by the combined use of alkyl halides (R'-X, X = Br or Cl) and chlorotrialkylsilanes (R-3"Si-Cl) as the alkylating and silylating reagents, respectively. Terminal alkenes having aryl or silyl substituents (YRC=CH2, Y = Ar or Me3Si, R = H or Me) afford addition products YRC-(SiR"(3))-CH2R' in good yields, whereas 1-octene and internal alkenes were sluggish. When 2,3-disubstituted 1,3-butadienes were used instead of alkenes, alkyl and silyl units are introduced at the 1- and 3-positions giving rise to allylsilanes in high yields under similar conditions. The present reaction involves (i) addition of alkyl radicals toward alkenes or dienes, and (ii) electrophilic trapping of benzyl- or allylmagnesium halides with chlorosilanes. The titanocene catalyst plays important roles in generation of these active species, i.e., alkyl radicals and benzyl- or allylmagnesium halides.