Pd-Catalyzed disilylation: an efficient route to 2,2 '-bis(trimethylsilyl)biphenyls via trapping transient dibenzopalladacyclopentadienes with hexamethyldisilane

A palladium-catalyzed disilylation reaction of 2-iodobiphenyls with hexamethyldisilane via trapping transient dibenzopalladacyclopentadienes has been achieved. Diversely functionalized 2,2'-bis(trimethylsilyl) biphenyls have been synthesized in good to excellent yields under mild conditions. Moreover, 2,2'-bis(trimethylsilyl) biphenyls readily transformed into 2,2'-dihalobiphenyls, which could be used to synthesize carbazole, dibenzo[b,d]thiophene and dibenzo[b,d]selenophene polycyclic heteroarenes.