Activation of silanes by Grubbs' carbene complex Cl2(PCy3)2Ru=CHPh:: dehydrogenative condensation of alcohols and hydrosilylation of carbonyls

This manuscript describes two catalytic methods for silyl ether synthesis using Grubbs' catalyst Cl-2(PCy3)(2)Ru=CHPh. Silyl ethers are obtained from the reaction of a variety of silanes with alcohols by dehydrogenative condensation and by the hydrosilylation of carbonyl compounds. Both reactions occur under neat conditions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.