Nickel-Catalyzed, Reductive C(sp3 )-Si Cross-Coupling of α-Cyano Alkyl Electrophiles and Chlorosilanes.

A nickel/zinc-catalyzed cross-electrophile coupling of alkyl electrophiles activated by an α-cyano group and chlorosilanes is reported. Elemental zinc is the stoichiometric reductant in this reductive coupling process. By this, a C(sp3 )-Si bond can be formed starting from two electrophilic reactants whereas previous methods rely on the combination of carbon nucleophiles and silicon electrophiles or vice versa.