Formation of 1,4-disilyl-2-butenes from vinyl grignard reagent and chlorosilanes catalyzed by a titanocene complex.

Symmetrical 1,4-disilyl-2-butenes 1 have been prepared by the reaction of vinyl Grignard reagent with chlorosilanes. This reaction proceeds efficiently in the presence of a catalytic amount of titanocene dichloride at 0 degrees C in THF. When dichlorodiphenylsilane was used, 1,1-diphenyl-1-silacyclo-3-pentene 2 was obtained in a good yield.