METATHESIS OF SILICON-CONTAINING OLEFINS .7. EFFECT OF SUBSTITUENTS ON SILICON ON CROSS-METATHESIS OF VINYLSILANES WITH 1-ALKENES IN THE PRESENCE OF RUTHENIUM COMPLEXES

Cross-metathesis (disproportionation) of vinyl-substituted silicon compounds containing methyl, alkoxyl, phenyl, trimethylsiloxyl and silatranyl groups at silicon with 1-decene occurs effectively in the presence of benzene solutions of RuCl2(PPh3)3 activated by dioxygen. The nature of the substituent had only minor effects on the initial rate of substrate consumption and ethene evolution. The results obtained are discussed in view of two proposed mechanisms involving a ruthenium-carbene intermediate as well as insertion of alkene into the Ru-Si bond (and vinylsilane into the Ru-H bond) with elimination of silylalkene from beta-alkylsilyl ligands (ethylene from beta-ethylsilyl ligands).