Effect of triarylphosphane ligands on the rhodium‐catalyzed hydrosilylation of alkene

A series of triarylphosphanes ( 1a , 2a , 3a , 4a , 5a , 6a , 7a , 8a , 9a , 10a , 11a ) have been synthesized. An X‐ray crystal structure analysis of (2‐bromophenyl)diphenylphosphane ( 1a ) unambiguously confirmed the constitution of the functionalized phosphane. The hydrosilylation reaction of styrene with triethoxysilane catalyzed with RhCl₃/triarylphosphane was studied. In comparison with the classic Wilkinson's catalyst, rhodium complexes with functionalized triarylphosphane ligands are characterized by a very high catalytic effectiveness for the hydrosilylation of alkene. Among these catalysts tested, RhCl₃/diphenyl(2‐(trimethylsilyl)phenyl)phosphane ( 8a ) exhibited excellent catalytic properties. Using this silicon‐containing phosphane ligand for the rhodium‐catalyzed hydrosilylation of styrene, both higher conversion of alkene and higher β‐adduct selectivity were obtained than with Wilkinson's catalyst. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.