Ruthenium-catalyzed reactions of aromatic compounds having an amino group or a heteroaromatic ring as a directing group with triethylsilane gave the corresponding ortho silylated products in good to excellent yields. In contrast to our previous results, in which the reactive substrates with π-conjugation between the hetero atom in the directing group and the carbon atom possessing the C-H bond to be cleaved were used, the present reaction proceeds in cases of substrates having no such π-conjugation.

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Irradiation of an acetonitrile solution containing cyclohexylidenepropanedinitrile (1) and allyltrimethylsilane (2) in the presence of phenanthrene afforded two kinds of allylated products (3, 4) and a reduction product (5). The product ratio of 3, 4, and 5 dramatically changed depending on the pK(a) values of additives.

Regio- and stereoselective photoallylation of electron-deficient alkenes by use of allylic silanes via photoinduced electron transfer has been described. Similar photoinduced  functionalization reactions such as arylmethylation, alkylation, and silylation can be achieved by using a variety of organosilicon compounds. These photoreactions proceed via radical cations of organosilicon compounds and radical anions of electron-deficient alkenes as reactive intermediates. The key step of the photoreactions is the attack of carbon radicals, which are generated from the radical cations of organosilicon compounds, on the radical anions of alkenes. The mechanism of the regio- and stereoselective photofunctionalization is discussed.

Diastereoselective protonations in the photoinduced electron transfer (PET) reactions of 1,1-dicyanoethene derivatives (1a-e) by use of organosilicon compounds such as allyltrimethylsilane (2) and benzyltrimethylsilane (5) are described. Irradiation of an acetonitrile-acetic acid solution containing 4-tert-butylcyclohexylidenepropanedinitrile (1a) and an excess of 2 in the presence of phenanthrene (Phen) as a sensitizer afforded reduction and allylated products (3a, 4a) in 63:37 and 57:43 ratios in a less regioselective manner. Photoreactions of 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexylidenepropanedinitrile (1b), 2-methylcyclohexylidenepropanedinitrile (1c), bicyclo[2.2.1]-2-heptylidenepropanedinitrile (1d), and 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]-2-heptylidenepropanedinitrile (1e) with 2 showed higher diastereoselectivity via the PET process. Similar diastereoselectivities were obtained in the Phen-sensitized photoreaction of 1a-e with 5. When 2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium tosylate (7) was used as a proton source in place of acetic acid, the product ratios were substantially changed in several cases. From these results, steric and torsional effects have been postulated as important factors for the control of the diastereoselectivity in these PET reactions.