Nickel(ii)-catalyzed reductive silylation of alkenyl methyl ethers for the synthesis of alkyl silanes.

A new one pot protocol has been developed for the reductive silylation of alkenyl methyl ethers using EtSi-BPin and HSiEt with nickel(ii) catalyst. Styrene type methyl ethers, multi-substituted vinyl methyl ethers, heterocycles and unconjugated vinyl ethers are all tolerated to form alkyl silanes. Mechanistic study reveals that it is a cascade of a C-O bond silylation and vinyl double bond hydrogenation process. Internal nucleophilic substitution or oxidative addition pathways were both acceptable for C-O bond cleavage. The acquired intermediate alkenyl silanes then proceeded through an unconventional reduction process thus providing alkyl silanes.