Zirconocene-Catalyzed Silylation of Alkenes with Chlorosilanes

Vinylsilanes and/or allylsilanes are formed upon silylation of terminal alkenes with R₃^′SiCl in the presence of a Grignard reagent and a catalytic amount of [Cp₂ZrCl₂] [Eq. (a)]. The reaction also proceeds under mild conditions when silylsulfides (X=SPh), silylselenides (X=SePh), and silyltellurides (X=TePh) are used in place of chlorosilanes (X=Cl). R″=alkyl, aryl, alkylsilyl; R′=Me, Et, nPr; R=CH₂R″, aryl, H.