Synthesis of Thiophene-Fused Siloles through Rhodium-Catalyzed <i>Trans</i>-Bis-Silylation

Abstract

Rhodium-catalyzed reactions of 3-ethynyl-2-pentamethyldisilanylthiophene derivatives (1a–1c) have been reported. At 110 °C, compounds 1a–1c reacted in the presence of a rhodium complex catalyst, yielding thiophene-fused siloles (2a–2c) through intramolecular trans-bis-silylation. To understand the production of 2a from 1a, the mechanism was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Keywords

• rhodium-catalyzed reaction
• <i>trans</i>-bis-silylation
• silole
• DFT calculation
• 3-ethynyl-2-pentamethyldisilanylthiophene
• cyclic silicon compound