Silylation as a protective method in acetylene chemistry. : Syntheses in the polyeneyne series,R3Si(CC)n(CHCH)4(CC)nSiR3 and H(CC)n(CHCH)4(CC)nH (n = 1, 2)

The Grignard reagents R₃Si(CC)_nMgBr (R = Me, n = 1; R = Et, n = 1,2) couple with cyclooctatetraene dibromide 1 in THF to give, as major products, the silyl-stabilised E, Z, Z, E-polyeneynes, Me₃SiCC(CHCH)₄CCSiMe₃3a, Et₃SiCC(CHCH)₄CCSiEt₃4a and Et₃Si(CC)₂(CHCH)₄(CC)₂SiEt₃6a together with minor proportions of configurational isomers Z, E, Z, Z 3c, all -E 3b, 4b, 6b and compounds in which a bicyclo-octadiene structure 2, 5 and 7 is retained. Irradiation converts the cis(Z)-rich isomers e.g. 3c into the all-trans(E) products. Treatment of the bissilyl compounds 3, 4 and 6 with aqueous base liberates the respective parent polyeneynes, H(CC)_n(CHCH)₄(CC)_nH, in each case.