Catalytic C-H bond functionalization: Synthesis of arylsilanes by dehydrogenative transfer coupling of arenes and triethylsilane

A new catalytic route for the formation of arene-silicon bonds based on the transfer dehydrogenative coupling of triethylsilane with an arene (Ar-X: X = -CF3, -F, -H, -CH3, -Cl, -Br) in the presence of 3,3-dimethylbut-1-ene (Bu-t-ethylene) is reported. Rhodium and ruthenium catalysts (eta(5)-C5Me5)Rh(H)(2)(SiEt3)(2) and (eta(6)-arene)Ru(H)(2)(SiEt3)(2) and their corresponding dimeric chloride precursors not only catalyze the coupling of Et3SiH with an arene but additionally promote the dimerization of Et3SiH producing a carbosilane, Et3Si-CHMe-SiEt2H.