Three stable 1-silapropadienes 1a−c were
prepared by the intermolecular addition of
organolithium reagents at the carbon−carbon triple bond of
fluoroalkynylsilanes 3a,b
followed by LiF elimination. The structure of 1a and of
the intermediate α-lithiated
fluorosilane 2a were determined by X-ray diffraction.
The chemical behavior of 1-silapropadienes 1a−c differs greatly depending on the
substituents on the silicon atom. When
two triisopropylphenyl groups were present (1a), typical
addition reactions of the SiC double
bond were observed. Thermolysis of 1a yielded
benzosilacyclobutene 7. For the more
hindered 1-silapropadienes 1b and 1c, no reaction
was observed with dioxygen, benzaldehyde,
2,3-dimethylbutadiene, or trimethylchlorosilane at room temperature.
However, thermolysis
of 1b or treatment with excess ethanol under neutral or
acidic conditions produced 8b, the
product of an intramolecular insertion of the SiC double bond into
an adjoining primary
C−H bond of one tert-butyl group in an ortho-position of
the supermesityl substituent. In
the presence of EtOD and catalytic D2SO4,
this reaction occurred very rapidly at −78 °C
with over 95% incorporation of deuterium in the product.