Silylene induced cooperative B–H bond activation and unprecedented aldehyde C–H bond splitting with amidinate ring expansion

Abstract

The addition of HBpin to PhC(NtBu)₂SiN(SiMe₃)₂ (1) results in the cleavage of the B–H bond in a cooperative fashion across the Si and amidinate-C sites. The reaction of 1 with benzaldehyde led to C–H bond activation with amidinate ring expansion leading to a five-membered heterocycle. In case of 4-fluorobenzaldehyde, a C–C bond coupling takes place leading to a dioxasilolane derivative as the major product.