Unique Reactivity of Dihydrosilanes under Catalysis by Supported Gold Nanoparticles: cis-1,2-Dehydrogenative Disilylation of Alkynes

In contrast to monohydrosilanes (R3SiH), which in the presence of supported gold nanoparticles primarily undergo typical -(E)-hydrosilylation reactions with alkynes, dihydrosilanes (R2SiH2) under catalysis of Au/TiO2 lead to cis-1,2-dehydrogenative disilylation reactions at room temperature with high selectivity. The disilyl adducts can be further functionalized through a one-pot procedure, catalyzed by the same catalyst, to form substituted 2,5-dihydro-1,2,5-oxadisiloles or 1,4-disila-2,5-cyclohexadienes.