Synthesis, structures, and reactivity of 9,9-dialkoxy-9-silafluorenes

A series of novel 9,9-dialkoxy-9-silafluorenes were synthesized, and their structures and reactivity were studied. Dehydrogenative alkoxylation of 9,9-dihydro-9-silafluorene with various alcohols in the presence of PdCl2 gave the corresponding dialkoxylated products in good yields. The structures of some of the novel 9,9-dialkoxy-9-silafluorenes were analyzed by X-ray crystallography. The 9,9-dialkoxy-9-silafluorenes show remarkably high reactivity toward phenylmagnesium bromide to afford substitution products.