Facile synthesis of tribenzosilepins from terphenyls and dihydrosilanes by electrophilic double silylation

Tribenzosilepins were synthesized from terphenyls and dihydrosilanes via a facile approach using a double sila-Friedel-Crafts reaction. Several silepin derivatives were obtained in moderate to high yield. The reaction system was found to be suitable for synthesizing a bidirectional silepin. Furthermore, the transformation of the amino groups of tribenzosilepin derivatives to aryl groups and the extension of the backbone pi-system in tribenzosilepin were demonstrated.

Automated summary

Tribenzosilepins were synthesized efficiently from terphenyls and dihydrosilanes using a double sila-Friedel-Crafts reaction. The reaction system was capable of producing bidirectional silepin derivatives, and the transformation of amino groups to aryl groups as well as extension of the pi-system in tribenzosilepin were demonstrated.