Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrenes with trichlorosilane

Abstract

Asymmetric hydrosilylation of styrenes with trichlorosilane catalyzed by palladium complexes coordinated with chiral monodentate phosphorus ligands produces chiral benzylic silanes, which can be converted into enantiomerically enriched benzylic alcohols by a stereospecific oxidative cleavage of the carbonsilicon bond with retention of configuration. Due to its high catalytic activity and perfect regioselectivity without producing any by-products, it has recently become a potent methodology to prove the efficacy of newly-developed chiral ligands, especially monodentate ones, in asymmetric synthesis.