Synthesis of silacycles via metal hydrogen atom transfer and radical-polar crossover mechanism

Abstract

In this study, we have developed an efficient method for silacycle synthesis using metal hydride hydrogen atom transfer (MHAT) and radical-polar crossover (RPC) mechanism. Allylic silanols were synthesized via one-step condensation and then cyclized under mild conditions using N-fluoropyridinium tetrafluoroborate (Me₃NFPY·BF₄) as the oxidant under cobalt catalysis. This approach yielded five-, six-, and seven-membered silacycles with high selectivity, with the six-membered rings being the favored products. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided valuable insights into the reaction mechanisms and highlighted the role of ring strain in determining product selectivity. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of combining MHAT/RPC methodologies with silicon tethering, thus offering a robust platform for expanding the use of silicon-based strategies in synthetic chemistry.