Reactions of dilithiobutadienes with monochlorosilanes: Observation of facile loss of organic groups from silicon

Reactions of 1,4-dilithiobutadienes (from 1,4-diiodo-1,2,3,4-tetraethylbutadiene (1) and 2,2′-dibromobiphenyl (7) with t-BuLi) with Me₃SiCl gave siloles (3 and 9a) as the major products. No evidence for a disilylated butadiene was obtained. Use of higher molecular weight chlorosilanes ((allyl)Me₂SiCl, BnMe₂SiCl, and PhMe₂SiCl) with dibromide 7 gave dimethylsilole 9a and a silane (10a, 10b, or 10c) resulting from trapping of the organic group by the chlorosilane.     

Unique reactivity of a 1,4-dilithiobutadiene with methyl iodide

Reactions of 1,4-dilithiobutadiene 5 with MeI in THF gave predominantly methyl iododiene 6. Monolithio monoiodo intermediate 8 was shown not to be involved in the formation of 6, but the results were consistent with the involvement of monolithio monomethyl intermediate 11, which could lead to 6 by metal-halogen exchange. Several other lithioalkenes also reacted with MeI to give alkenyl iodides.