Metal-Free Hydrosilylation of Ketenes with Silicon Electrophiles: Access to Fully Substituted Aldehyde-Derived Silyl Enol Ethers

Little-explored hydrosilylation of ketenes promoted by main-group catalysts is reported. The boron Lewis acid tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane accelerates the slow uncatalyzed reaction of ketenes and hydrosilanes, thereby providing a convenient access to the new class of β,β-di- and β-monoaryl-substituted aldehyde-derived silyl enol ethers. Yields are moderate to high, and Z configuration is preferred. The corresponding silyl bis-enol ethers are also available when using dihydrosilanes. The related trityl-cation-initiated hydrosilylation involving self-regeneration of silylium ions is far less effective.