Silylative aromatization of p -quinone methides under metal and solvent free conditions.

A base-mediated silylation reaction leading to benzyl silanes has been developed. Under transition-metal and solvent free conditions, the silylation of a wide array of p -quinone methides is achieved using a Cs 2 CO 3 catalyst in yields up to 96%. Carboxylation of the as-obtained organosilane with gaseous CO 2 provides a new synthetic protocol for the preparation of carboxylic acid.