1,2-Selective Hydrosilylation of Conjugated Dienes

Selective 1,2-hydro­silylation of 1,3-dienes is a challenging problem in transition metal catalysis. Buta­diene, specifically, would be a useful substrate because 3-butenyl­silane products have promise as superior coupling reagents for hybrid organic/inorganic materials synthesis. We report the first selective 1,2-hydro­silylation of conjugated dienes including buta­diene. Hydro­silylation proceeds through a Pt­(II/IV) cycle, and selectivity is generated at a hexa­coordinate Pt­(IV) complex that favors η2-diene coordination and prevents π-allyl complex formation.