Silylated organometals: a family of recyclable homogeneous catalysts

Abstract

A general strategy has been developed to synthesize a family of silylated organometals (M-PPh₂-T_S and DPEN-Ru-PPh₂-Ts, M = Pd²⁺, Rh⁺, Pt²⁺, Ir⁺, or Ru²⁺, PPh₂-Ts = PPh₂CH₂CH₂Si(OEt)₃), DPEN = (1R,2R)-1,2-diphenylethylenediamine). They can act as homogeneous catalysts with high efficiencies in various organic reactions using THF, CH₂Cl₂ or toluene as the reaction medium. After reaction, they could be thoroughly settled down by adding pentane and then used repeatedly owing to the complete catalyst recovery and good preservation of the catalyst structure. This is particularly important due to the increasing concerns regarding the cost, toxicity and limited availability of these nonrenewable transition metals.