Expanding the scope of bis(catecholato)germane catalysis: hydrosilylation, hydroboration, Friedel–Crafts alkylation and oligomerization

Abstract

Various applications of bis(catecholato)germanes in catalysis were examined. The hydrosilylation of benzaldehydes, hydroboration of phenylacetylene derivatives, and Friedel–Crafts alkylation using arylalkenes and either diphenylamine or anisole was achieved. Furthermore, the recently reported oligomerization of α-methylstyrene catalyzed by bis(catecholato)germanes with weak donor ligands was examined further. The formation of a trimer species was observed in DCM. VTNA and Hammett analyses of the oligomerization reaction were conducted and an updated mechanism for bis(catecholato)germane catalysis is proposed.