Abstract
Silicon is a truly exceptional element as it serves as a reactive site for an almost
infinite number of transformations pertinent to synthetic organic chemistry. Importantly,
the intertwined relationship of the valency at silicon and its chemical reactivity
represents the key to a profound understanding and the design of novel reactions.
Thus, these so-called hypervalent silanes are crucial intermediates in silicon-based
carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions, whereby tetravalent silanes are conventionally
employed in carbon-silicon bond-forming processes. This review aims at a detailed
discussion of these mechanistic aspects illustrated with some synthetically significant
developments in modern organosilicon chemistry. Recent advances in silicon-mediated,
organocatalytic C(sp3 )-C(sp3 ) bond formation directed towards the preparation of aldol and aldol-like products
are covered. Silicon-based transition-metal-catalyzed C(spn )-C(sp2 ) bond formations involving hypervalent silicon intermediates are also included. These
seemingly dissimilar reactions will be comparatively juxtaposed.
1 Introduction: Hypervalent Silicon
2 C(sp3 )-C(sp3 ) Bond Formation
2.1 Silicon-Based Chiral Lewis Acids
2.2 Synthesis of Aldol and Aldol-Like Products
2.2.1 Addition of Allylic Silanes to Carbonyl Compounds
2.2.2 Addition of Silicon Enolates to Carbonyl Compounds
3 C(spn )-C(sp2 ) Bond Formation: Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reactions
4 Outlook and Perspective
Key words
aldol reactions - allylations - organocatalysis - cross-coupling - silicon