Palladium-catalyzed synthesis of benzosilacyclobutenes via position-selective C(sp 3 )-H arylation.

A palladium-catalyzed synthesis of benzosilacyclobutenes has been developed via position-selective C(sp 3 )-H bond activation, including those having substituents at the methylene carbon on the 4-membered silacycle. The obtained products could be engaged in the palladium- or nickel-catalyzed ring-expansion reactions to give compounds possessing 6-membered silacycles.