Electrochemical oxidation of hydrosilanes. A synthetic approach to halosilanes and disilanes
Electrolytic oxidation of dimethylphenylsilane (1) in the presence of CuCl2 or CuCl afforded chlorodimethylphenylsilane in high yields ( >90%), while similar electrolysis of 1 in the presence of BF4− ions afforded fluorodimethylphenylsilane in 90% yield. 1,2-Diphenyltetramethyldisilane was obtained from 1 in 48% yield by the electrolysis with a Pt–Cu electrode system. A “paired” electrolysis of methyldiphenylsilane on the anode and chloromethyldiphenylsilane on the cathode afforded 1,2-dimethyltetraphenyldisilane in 64% yield.