文摘
Silacyclobutane was discovered to be an efficient C−H bond silylation reagent. Under the catalysis of RhI/TMS-segphos, silacyclobutane undergoes sequential C−Si/C−H bond activations, affording a series of π-conjugated siloles in high yields and regioselectivities. The catalytic cycle was proposed to involve a rarely documented endocyclic β-hydride elimination of five-membered metallacycles, which after reductive elimination gave rise to a Si−RhI species that is capable of C−H activation.