Complexes
[PhBP3]RuH(η3-H2SiRR′)
(RR′ = Me,Ph, 1a; RR′ = Ph2, 1b; RR′ = Et2, 1c) react with
XylNC to form carbene complexes [PhBP3]Ru(H)[C(H)(N(Xyl)(η2-H–SiRR′))] (2a–c; previously reported for 2a,b). Reactions
of 1a–c with XylNC were further investigated
to assess how metal complexes with multiple M–H–Si bonds
can mediate transformations of unsaturated substrates. Complex 2a eliminates an N-methylsilacycloindoline
product (3a) that results from hydrosilylation, hydrogenation,
and benzylic C–H activation of XylNC. Turnover was achieved
in a pseudocatalytic manner by careful control of the reaction conditions.
Complex 1c mediates a catalytic isocyanide reductive
coupling to furnish an alkene product (4) in a transformation
that has precedent only in stoichiometric processes. The formations
of 3a and 4 were investigated with deuterium
labeling experiments, KIE and other kinetic studies, and by examining
the reactivity of XylNC with an η3-H2SiMeMes
complex (1d) to form a C–H activated complex (6). Complex 6 serves as a model for an intermediate
in the formation of 3a, and NMR investigations at −30
°C reveal that 6 forms via a carbene complex (1d) that isomerizes to aminomethyl complex 7d. These investigations reveal that the formations of 3a and 4 involve multiple 4-, 5-, and 6-coordinate silicon
species with 0, 1, 2, or 3 Ru–H–Si bonds. These mechanisms
demonstrate exceptionally intricate roles for silicon in transition-metal-catalyzed
reactions with a silane reagent.