Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Silicon-Stereogenic Dihydrodibenzosilines: Silicon Central-to-Axial Chirality Relay.

A Rh-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of silicon-stereogenic dihydrodibenzosilines featuring axially chiral 6-membered bridged biaryls is demonstrated. In the presence of a RhI catalyst with a chiral diphosphine ligand, a wide range of dihydrodibenzosilines containing both silicon-central and axial chiralities are conveniently constructed in excellent enantioselectivities via dehydrogenative C(sp3 )-H silylation. Absolute configuration analysis by single-crystal X-ray structures revealed a novel silicon central-to-axial chirality relay phenomenon, which we believe will inspire further research in the field of asymmetric catalysis and chiroptical materials.