B(C6F5)3-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Vinylcyclopropanes.

A hydrosilylation of vinylcyclopropanes (VCPs) catalyzed by the strong boron Lewis acid B(C6F5)3 is reported. For the majority of VCPs, little or no ring opening of the cyclopropyl unit is observed. Conversely, for VCPs with bulky R groups, such as ortho-substituted aryl rings or branched alkyl residues, ring opening is the exclusive reaction pathway. This finding is explained by the thwarted hydride delivery to a sterically shielded, β-silicon-stabilized cyclopropylcarbinyl cation intermediate.