A Mild and Efficient Protocol for the Catalytic Silylation of Aryl Bromides

New catalyst systems were developed which facilitate palladium-catalyzed silylation of various functionalized aryl and heteroaryl bromides with hexamethyldisilane under unprecedented mild conditions. The use of two different sets of ligands and bases for electron-rich and electron-poor substrates, respectively, is crucial for achieving excellent product selectivities at 100 °C and atmospheric pressure. For electron-rich substrates, diphenyl-2′-pyridylphosphine in combination with K₂CO₃ gives the best results, whereas for electron-poor substrates, 2-(di-t-butylphosphino)biphenyl/KF is preferred. Even base-sensitive arylsilanes, which are inaccessible by the traditional routes via organolithium species or Grignard reagents, can be prepared in a single step and high yields.

hexamethyldisilane - palladium - arylsilanes - aryl halides - catalysis