<i>ortho</i>‐Selective Nucleophilic Addition of Primary Amines to Silylbenzynes: Synthesis of 2‐Silylanilines

Abstract

Cause and effect: The first ortho-selective nucleophilic addition reaction of amines to 3-substituted benzynes has been achieved. Despite a large trimethylsilyl substituent, primary amines attack the C2 position of 3-silylbenzynes to produce 2-silylanilines (see scheme). This outcome is likely to result from the inductive electron-donating effect of the silyl group, which overrides its steric repulsion with the approaching amines.