Catalytic Alcoholysis of Tetramethylsilane via Pt-Mediated C−H Bond Activation

Abstract

Tetramethylsilane reacts with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) in the presence of a cationic platinum(II) catalyst [(NN)PtMe(TFE)]+ (NN = 1,2-bis(3,5-dimethylphenylimino)butane). Catalytic Si−C bond heterolysis results in the formation of the trimethylsilyl ether, Me_3SiOCH_2CF_3, accompanied by liberation of one equivalent of methane. Preliminary experiments suggest that a rate-determining C−H bond activation precedes rapid attack by solvent at silicon to yield the silyl ether product and regenerate the active platinum methyl cation.

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