Preparation and reaction of 2-aryl-3-silyl-1 3-butadiene

[GRAPHICS] A conjugated pi-electron compound, 2-aryl-3-silyi-1,3-butadiene, was easily prepared from 1-benzyloxy-3-sityl-2-propyne, bis(lodozincio)methane, and an aryl halide in the presence of nickel catalyst. A subsequent cross-coupling reaction of the product with another aryl halide gave an unsymmetrical 2,3-diaryl-1,3-butadiene efficiently.