Si–N Heterodehydrocoupling with a Lanthanide Compound

Abstract

[La{N(SiMe3)2}3THF2] (1) is an effective precatalyst for the heterodehydrocoupling of silanes and amines. Coupling of primary and secondary amines with aryl silanes was achieved with a loading of 0.8 mol % of [La{N(SiMe3)2}3THF2]. With primary amines, generation of tertiary and sometimes quaternary silamines was facile, often requiring only a few hours to reach completion, including new silamines Ph3Si(nPrNH) and Ph3Si(iPrNH). Secondary amines were also available for heterodehydrocoupling, though they generally required longer reaction times and, in some instances, higher reaction temperatures. This work expands upon the utility of f-block complexes in heterodehydrocoupling catalysis.