Different radical initiation techniques of hydrosilylation reactions of multiple bonds in water: thermal and photochemical initiation

Abstract

The classical radical-based hydrosilylation reaction of organic compounds bearing C C multiple bonds is usually carried out in organic solvents and is herein presented in water with both hydrophobic and hydrophilic substrates. Thermal and photochemical initiations are used to accomplish the radical-induced hydrosilylation reaction of C C multiple bonds in water with tris(trimethylsilyl)silane ((Me3Si)3SiH). Photochemical radical initiation in the absence of a chemical radical precursor other than the silane is found to be a very efficient and convenient method to induce the hydrosilylation reaction of C C multiple bonds of organic compounds with (Me3Si)3SiH in water. This new alternate radical-based methodology studied in water is confronted with the classical radical thermal initiation of hydrosilylation reactions triggered through the thermal decomposition of azo compounds. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.