Phenylsilane

Phenylsilane
Names
Other names
Silylbenzene
Identifiers
694-53-1 Yes
ChemSpider 12228 
Jmol-3D images Image
PubChem 12752
Properties
Molecular formula
C6H8Si
Molar mass 108.21 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Density 0.878 g/cm3
Boiling point 119 to 121 °C (246 to 250 °F; 392 to 394 K)
Reactive
Hazards
R-phrases R11-R14/15-R20/22-R36/37/38
S-phrases S16-S43
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
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Infobox references

Phenylsilane, also known as silylbenzene, a colorless liquid, is one of the simplest organosilanes with the formula C6H5SiH3. It is structurally related to toluene, with a silyl group replacing the methyl group. Both of these compounds have similar densities and boiling points due to these similarities. Phenylsilane is soluble in organic solvents.

Synthesis and reactions

Phenylsilane is produced in two steps from Si(OEt)4. In the first step, phenylmagnesium bromide is added to form Ph-Si(OEt)3 via a Grignard reaction. Reduction of the resulting Ph-Si(OEt)3 product with LiAlH4 affords phenylsilane.[1]

Ph-MgBr + Si(OEt)4 → Ph-Si(OEt)3 + MgBr(OEt)
4 Ph-Si(OEt)3 + 3 LiAlH4 → 4 Ph-SiH3 + 3 LiAl(OEt)4

Uses

Phenylsilane can be used to reduce tertiary phosphine oxides to the corresponding tertiary phosphine.

P(CH3)3O + PhSiH3 --> P(CH3)3 + PhSiH2OH

The use of phenylsilane proceeds with retention of configuration at the phosphine. For example, cyclic chiral tertiary phosphine oxides can be reduced to cyclic tertiary phosphines.[2]

Phenylsilane can also be combined with cesium fluoride. In aprotic solvents, it becomes a nonnucleophilic hydride donor. Specifically, phenylsilane-caesium fluoride has been shown to reduce 4-oxazolium salts to 4-oxazolines. This reduction gives yields of 95%.[3]

References

  1. Minge, O.; Mitzel, N. W.; and Schmidbaur, H. Synthetic Pathways to Hydrogen-Rich Polysilylated Arenes from Trialkoxysilanes and Other Precursors. Organometallics 2002, 21, 680-684. doi:10.1021/om0108595
  2. Weber, W. P. Silicon Reagents for Organic Synthesis. Springer-Verlag: Berlin, 1983. ISBN 0-387-11675-3.
  3. Fleck, T. J. Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis doi:10.1002/047084289X.rp101