Homogeneous catalysis of O-silylation reactions using octacarbonyldicobalt(O)

Octacarbonyldicobalt(O) has been used to catalyze the reaction of R₃SiH (R = Et and EtO) with R′OH (R′ = Me, Et, n-Pr, i-Pr, and t-Bu). The reaction of MeOH with (EtO)₃SiH, in toluene at 27 °C, was first-order with respect to the catalyst, to the silane, and to the alcohol. The order of reactivity of the alcohols was MeOH > EtOH > n-PrOH > i-PrOH > t-BuOH, reflecting the steric effect associated with the size of the organic group. Addition of triphenyl phosphine (Ph₃P) to the reaction mixture slowed down the reaction. The reaction proceeds faster if nonpolar solvents are used, and the rate of the reaction is very sensitive to temperature.