Preparation of Novel (Fluoroaryl)silanes and Their Applications in the Organoyttrium-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Alkenes and Oxidation to Alcohols

The synthesis of novel (fluoroaryl)silanes from the respective aryl Grignard reagents and silyl triflates is reported. The new silanes were used in the hydrosilylation of alkenes catalyzed by the organoyttrium complex Cp* 2 YMe·THF (THF = tetrahydrofuran). (Fluoroaryl)silanes were found to react faster than phenylsilane and in good to near quantitative yields. The resulting [(fluoroaryl)silyl]alkane products were found to be labile under very mild oxidative conditions, with both disubstituted alkenes and silyl-protected alcohol functionalities tolerating the oxidation.