DyI2 initiated mild and highly selective silyl radical-catalyzed cyclotrimerization of terminal alkynes and polymerization of MMA

An efficient method for the formation of SiCl3 radicals by the reaction of abundant and cheaper chlorosilanes with DyI2 has been established, not only demonstrating new distinctive reactivities of solvated DyI2 but also suggesting that the presence of lanthanide ions can improve the selectivity of some silyl radical-catalyzed reactions.