Highly efficient B(C6F5)3-catalyzed hydrosilylation of olefins

A convenient and highly efficient method for the Lewis acid-catalyzed trans-selective hydrosilylation of alkenes has been developed. The mechanism of this novel protocol operates via direct addition of silylium type species across C=C bond followed by trapping of the resultant carbenium ion with boron-bound hydride. A number of diversely substituted silanes possessing both aryl and alkyl groups at silicon atom were efficiently prepared using this hydrosilylation methodology. The possibility to employ aryl-containing hydrosilanes in this reaction opens broad capabilities for the synthesis of alcohols via a trans-selective hydrosilylation/Tamao-Fleming oxidation sequence, complementary to the existing cis-selective hydroboration/oxidation protocol.