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observed: the lowest levels of reactivity were observed when a (125 MHz, C6D6, diagnostic peaks) δ 132.5, 132.4, 130.5, 130.2,
strongly donating ligand was combined with a sterically 71.0, 70.7, 30.3, 30.2, 19.9, 19.8, 18.88, 18.86, 17.7, 17.4, 3.3,
encumbered alkene. The fact that the ligand could not control 2.9; 29Si NMR (99 MHz, C6D6, diagnostic peaks) δ −48.1, −48.2.
the facial selectivity only indicates that the interaction between
Silacyclopropanes 19a and 19b
the ligand and the substituents on the alkene did not differen-
tiate between diastereomeric transition states.
The representative procedure for the synthesis of silacyclo-
propanes was followed using alkene 18 (0.100 mL, 0.505 M in
C6D6, 0.0505 mmol), silacyclopropane 2 (0.100 mL, 0.548 M in
C6D6, 0.0548 mmol), mesitylene (0.0040 mL, 0.028 mmol,
internal standard), and AgOTs (0.100 mL, 0.025 M in C6D6,
0.0025 mmol) in C6D6 (0.200 mL). Silacyclopropanes 19a and
19b were formed in 96% combined yield based on the com-
parison of the area of the standard peak (δ 6.72) and the
methoxy protons (71 : 29 d.r.): 1H NMR (600 MHz, C6D6,
diagnostic peaks) δ 3.12 (s, 1.2H), 3.05 (s, 3H), 2.51 (dd, J =
15.7, 2.2, 1H), 1.99 (dd, J = 15.5, 6.2, 0.4H), 1.18 (s, 3.6H), 1.14
(s, 9H), 1.07 (s, 3.6H), 1.05 (s, 9H), 0.40–0.36 (m, 1H), 0.30 (dd,
J = 10.6, 9.5, 0.4H); 13C NMR (125 MHz, C6D6, diagnostic
peaks) δ 87.3, 87.2, 53.5, 53.1, 51.0, 50.9, 48.4, 47.9, 45.8, 45.5,
42.4, 42.3, 38.8, 38.7, 31.2, 31.0, 30.4, 30.3, 22.2, 22.0,
21.8, 21.7, 13.5, 12.6, 7.8, 7.2; 29Si NMR (99 MHz, C6D6)
δ −49.2, −49.8.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the stereoselective formation of sila-
cyclopropanes is possible if the reaction were reversible and
the alkene were sufficiently bulky. Through a systematic study
of different alkenes, we determined that the steric factors out-
weigh the electronic ones in the metal-catalyzed transfer of
silylenes to alkenes. These observations are consistent with a
mechanism involving the silylene, metal atom, ligand, and
alkene in the stereochemistry-determining step.
Experimental details
General procedures
General procedures are provided in the ESI.†
Silacyclopropanes 25a and 25b
The representative procedure for the synthesis of silacyclo-
propanes was followed using alkene (S)-23 (0.100 mL, 0.503 M
in C6D6, 0.0503 mmol), silacyclopropane 2 (0.100 mL, 0.550 M
in C6D6, 0.0550 mmol), mesitylene (0.0020 mL, 0.014 mmol,
internal standard), and [CuOTf]2·PhH (0.060 mL, 0.013 mM in
C6D6, 0.0016 mmol Cu) in C6D6 (0.240 mL). Silacyclopropanes
25a and 25b were formed in 82% yield based on the compari-
son of the area of the standard peak (δ 6.72) and the methine
protons (52 : 48 d.r.): 1H NMR (500 MHz, C6D6, diagnostic
peaks) δ 7.44 (d, J = 7.5, 2H), 7.41 (d, J = 7.5, 2H), 7.19 (t, J =
7.6, 4H), 7.10–7.07 (m, 2H), 4.86–4.80 (m, 2H), 2.43–2.28 (m,
2H), 2.09–1.98 (m, 2H), 1.18–1.13 (m, 1H), 1.08 (s, 9H), 1.06 (s,
9H), 1.04 (s, 9H and m, 1H), 1.04 (s, 9H), 1.03 (s, 9H), 1.02 (s,
18H), 0.91–0.85 (m, 2H), 0.31–0.23 (m, 2H), 0.17 (s, 3H), 0.16
(s, 3H), −0.02 (s, 3H), −0.04 (s, 3H); 13C NMR (125 MHz, C6D6,
diagnostic peaks) δ 147.1, 146.8, 127.73, 127.69, 126.83,
126.76, 78.5, 77.1, 44.8, 44.7, 31.2, 31.1, 30.18, 30.15, 26.6,
26.5, 11.5, 10.5, 3.9, 3.7, −3.87, −3.91, −4.1, −4.3; 29Si NMR
(99 MHz, C6D6, diagnostic peaks) δ −48.7, −49.6.
Representative procedure for silylene transfer without a ligand
(silacyclopropanes 5a and 5b)
To a solution of alkene 4 (0.100 mL, 0.496 M in C6D6,
0.0496 mmol) was added silacyclopropane 2 (0.110 mL, 0.750
M in C6D6, 0.0830 mmol), mesitylene (0.0020 mL, 0.014 mmol,
internal standard), and AgO2CCF3 (0.110 mL, 0.014 M in C6D6,
0.0015 mmol) in C6D6 (0.185 mL). Silacyclopropanes 5a and 5b
were formed in 88% combined yield based on the comparison
of the area of the standard peak (δ 6.72) and the silacyclo-
1
propane protons (54 : 46 d.r.): H NMR (600 MHz, C6D6, diagnos-
tic peaks) δ 4.08–3.99 (m, 2H), 1.69–1.59 (m, 2H), 1.24 (d, J =
6.1, 3H), 1.23 (d, J = 6.1, 3H), 1.17–1.15 (m, 42H), 1.15 (s, 9H),
1.039 (s, 9H), 1.037 (s, 9H), 0.94–0.87 (m, 4H), 0.32–0.24 (m,
2H); 13C NMR (150 MHz, C6D6, diagnostic peaks) δ 69.37,
69.36, 43.63, 43.58, 24.40, 24.36, 19.43, 19.38, 18.89, 18.86,
18.81, 18.78, 14.9, 14.8, 13.33, 13.26, 4.2, 4.1; 29Si NMR
(99 MHz, C6D6, diagnostic peaks) δ −49.0, −49.1.
Vinylsilacyclopropanes 7a and 7b
Silacyclopropanes 26a and 26b
The representative procedure for the synthesis of silacyclo-
propanes was followed using diene 6 (0.100 mL, 0.510 M in The representative procedure for the synthesis of silacyclo-
C6D6, 0.0510 mmol), silacyclopropane 2 (0.110 mL, 0.750 M in propanes was followed using alkene 24 (0.019 g, 0.051 mmol),
C6D6, 0.0830 mmol), mesitylene (0.0020 mL, 0.014 mmol, silacyclopropane 2 (0.100 mL, 0.550 M in C6D6, 0.0550 mmol),
internal standard), and AgO2CCF3 (0.085 mL, 0.018 M in C6D6, mesitylene (0.0020 mL, 0.014 mmol, internal standard), and
0.0015 mmol) in C6D6 (0.205 mL). Vinylsilacyclopropanes 7a AgO2CCF3 (0.0004 g, 0.0022 mmol) in C6D6 (0.400 mL).
and 7b were formed in 93% combined yield based on the com- Silacyclopropanes 26a and 26b were formed in 26% combined
parison of the area of the standard peak (δ 6.72) and the yield based on the comparison of the area of the standard
1
alkene protons (51 : 49 d.r.): H NMR (500 MHz, C6D6, diagno- peak (δ 6.72) and the methine protons (50 : 50 d.r.): 1H NMR
stic peaks) δ 5.95 (dd, J = 15.1, 7.6, 1H), 5.89 (dd, J = 15.2, 7.5, (500 MHz, C6D6, diagnostic peaks) δ 7.91–7.88 (m, 4H),
1H), 5.64–5.55 (m, 2H), 1.36–1.34 (m, 6H), 1.13 (s, 9H), 1.12 (s, 7.67–7.65 (m, 2H), 7.63–7.62 (m, 1H), 7.46–7.44 (m, 2H),
9H), 0.98 (s, 9H), 0.97 (s, 9H), 0.77–0.71 (s, 2H); 13C NMR 7.37–7.36 (m, 1H), 4.99 (dd, J = 8.5, 4.9, 1H), 4.90–4.80 (m,
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Dalton Trans.