Olefin Isomerization and Hydrosilylation Catalysis by Lewis Acidic Organofluorophosphonium Salts

Organofluorophosphonium salts of the formula [(C6F5)(3-x)PhxPF][B(C6F5)(4)] (x = 0, 1) exhibit Lewis acidity derived from a low-lying sigma* orbital at P opposite F. This acidity is evidenced by the reactions of these salts with olefins, which catalyze the rapid isomerization of 1-hexene to 2-hexene, the cationic polymerization of isobutylene, and the Friedel Crafts-type dimerization of 1,1-diphenylethylene. In the presence of hydrosilanes, olefins and alkynes undergo efficient hydrosilylation catalysis to the alkylsilanes. Experimental and computational considerations of the mechanism are consistent with the sequential activation and 1,2-addition of hydrosilane across the unsaturated C-C bonds.