IMPROVED SYNTHESIS OF DIMETHYLKETENE TRIMETHYLSILYL ACETALS BY RHODIUM-CATALYZED HYDROSILYLATION

Silyl ketene acetals have received much attention in the literature since the early work of McElvain and co-work-ers.1,2 These ester enolate equivalents are used extensively in Michael additions3 and aldol condensations.4 Webster and co-workers have used silyl ketene acetals in an acrylate polymerization technique known as group-transfer polymerization (GTP).5 In GTP, a silyl ketene acetal initiates condensation polymerization of acrylates and continues through sequential Michael additions. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.