Oligomerization of vinyl- and ethynyl-trimethylsilanes

Oligomerization of vinyl- and ethyl-trimethylsilanes in the presence of homogeneous nickel, cobalt and titanium catalytic systems has been studied. Vinyl-trimethylsilane forms linear dimeric products, 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)butenes. Using the titanium catalytic system, in addition to butenyldisilane, a branched dimeric product, 1,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3-methylprop-1-ene, and a linear trimer 1,3,6-tris(trimethylsilyl)hex-3-ene are formed. Ethynyltrimethylsilane, in the presence of the nickel catalytic system, is converted into a linear dimer, 1,4-bis(trimethylsilyl)but-3-ene-1-yne, and linear trimer, 1,4,6-tris(trimethylsilyl)hex-3,5-diene-1-yne.