Highly selective hydrosilylation of olefins and acetylenes by platinum(0) complexes bearing bulky N-heterocyclic carbene ligands.

Platinum complexes bearing bulky N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands, i.e., [Pt(IPr*)(dvtms)] (where, IPr* = 1,3-bis{2,6-bis(diphenylmethyl)-4-methylphenyl}imidazol-2-ylidene) and [Pt(IPr*OMe)(dvtms)] (where, IPr*OMe = 1,3-bis{2,6-bis(diphenylmethyl)-4-methoxyphenyl}imidazol-2-ylidene, dvtms = divinyltetramethyldisiloxane) catalyse nearly quantitatively and highly or completely the selective hydrosilylation of terminal olefins as well as terminal or internal acetylenes.

Selective synthesis of E-vinylsilanes and E,E-divinylsilanes via platinum-catalyzed hydrosilylation of alkynes with secondary silanes.

Platinum-N-heterocyclic carbene complex with the formula [Pt(IPr*OMe)(dvtms)] (where IPr*OMe = 1,3-bis{2,6-bis(diphenylmethyl)-4-methoxyphenyl}imidazol-2-ylidene, dvtms = divinyltetramethyldisiloxane) exhibits a high catalytic activity towards the ß-E-selective hydrosilylation of terminal acetylenes with many secondary silanes (46 examples). Depending on the ratio of the reagent concentrations, the products of mono- or disubstitution are selectively obtained. Moreover, the one-pot sequential hydrosilylation of two different alkynes with secondary silane was also achieved over the same platinum catalyst.