Addition of trimethylsilylmethylmagnesium chloride to α, β-unsaturated carbonyls

Reactions of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with Me₃SiCH₂MgCl, prepared from chloromethyltrimethylsilane 1], were examined. Unlike its lithium counterpart (Me₃SiCH₂Li), which adds to α,β-unsaturatedketones in the 1,2-sense, the Grignard reagent afforts γ silanes via a 1,4-addition sequence. This tendency is accentuated by the addition of Cu₂Br₂. Addition of the Grignard reagent to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes gives the simple 1,2-addition products.