A new catalytic route to synthesis of silylgermylethynes

Silylgermylethynes known to be potential organometallic reagents and precursors of optoelectronic materials can be efficiently synthesized via a recently reported catalytic method called silylative coupling of alkynes with vinylsilicon compounds. The reaction of triethylethynylgermane with vinyltrisubstituted silanes catalyzed by [RuHCl(CO)(PR3)(n)] (where R = Pr-i, Cy, Ph; n = 2-3) under optimal conditions selectively yields respective silylgermylethynes. Silylation of ethynylgermane with divinylsilicon derivatives such as siloxanes, silazanes, bis(silyl) benzene and bis(silyl)ethane gives monoethynylgermyl substituted vinyldisilicon products with high yields and selectivity, however, accompanied by traces of dialkynylgermyl derivatives. All catalytic results as well as those of stoichiometric study on the insertion of ethynylgermane into Ru-Si bond have permitted proposing mechanistic schemes of the reaction examined. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.