Ruthenium-Catalyzed Cross-Metathesis of Trisubstituted Vinylsilanes with Light Alkenes

In the cross-metathesis reaction of tri(methyl, ethoxy)vinylsilanes with propene and/or 1-butene catalyzed by RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃ activated in benzene at 115–130 °C, a series of l-alkenylsilanes of general formula CH₃(CH₂)_mCH = CHSiMe_3−n(OEt)_n, where m=0, 1, and n=0–3 (1-silyl-1-alkenes), as well as of formula CH₂=C(Me)SiMe_3−n(OEt)_n, where n=1, 2 (2-silyl-1-alkenes), were obtained. Additional products determined were allysilanes of general formula CH₂=CHCH₂SiMe_3−n(OEt)_n and CH₃CH= CHCH₂SiMe_3−n(OEt)_n, where n=1–3. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.