Preparation of silanethiols by reaction of silanes with triphenylphosphine sulfide and with alkanethiols

Silanes react with triphenylphosphine sulfide by a radical-chain mechanism to give the corresponding silanethiols in good yield. Silanethiols are similarly formed when silanes react with tert-dodecanethiol. Enantiomerically pure (S)-Bu ' MePhSiH gave racemic silanethiol with Ph(3)P=S, but with tert-dodecanethiol silanethiol with an ee up to 60% has been obtained, although in low chemical yield. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.