Experimental and Computational Studies of the Ruthenium-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Alkynes: Mechanistic Insights into the Regio- and Stereoselective Formation of Vinylsilanes

The ruthenium hydride complex (PCy3)(2)(CO)RuHCl was found to be a highly effective catalyst for the regio- and stereoselective hydrosilylation of alkynes to form vinylsilane products. (Z)-Vinylsilane products were selectively formed for sterically nondemanding terminal alkynes, while (E)-vinylsilane products resulted from sterically demanding terminal alkynes. Kinetic data were obtained from the hydrosilylation of phenylacetylene. The phosphine inhibition study showed an uncompetitive Michaelis-Menten type of inhibition kinetics. The empirical rate law rate = k(obs)[1](1)[alkyne](0)[silane](0) was established from the reaction rate as a function of both [alkyne] and [silane]. DFT calculations were performed and found that Z/E isomerization is facile via a metallacyclopropene transition state and that the isomerization occurs prior to the silane substrate binding. A detailed mechanistic scheme on the hydrosilylation reaction has been delineated on the basis of both experimental and computational data.