Insertion of dimethylsilylene into OH and NH single bonds

Abstract

Dimethylsilylene, generated by photolysis of dodecamethylcyclohexasilane, inserts efficiently into OH single bonds of alcohols to yield alkoxydimethylsilanes. Use of ethanol-O-d1 yields ethoxydimethylsilane-Si-d1. Dimethylsilylene also inserts into OH single bonds of water or D2O to yield respectively tetramethyldisiloxane or tetramethyldisiloxane-Si2-d2. Dimethylsilylene also inserts into NH bonds of primary and secondary amines to yield aminodimethylsilanes. This reaction provides an efficient route to difunctional silanes. © 1980.