Cross-Dehydrocoupling of Amines and Silanes Catalyzed by Magnesocenophanes

Abstract

The application of C[1]magnesocenophanes in dehydrocoupling catalysis is reported. Two new cycloalkylidenebridged C[1]magnesocenophanes were synthesized and structurally characterized. These C[1]magnesocenophanes were used as catalysts in amine−borane dehydrocoupling and, more extensively, in amine−silane cross-dehydrocoupling. The substrate scope, involving different aliphatic, aromatic, and benzylic amines, was probed and the mechanism of this cross-dehydrocoupling catalysis was investigated.