Continuous-flow Si-H functionalizations of hydrosilanesviasequential organolithium reactions catalyzed by potassiumtert-butoxide

We herein report an atom-economic flow approach to the selective and sequential mono-, di-, and tri-functionalizations of unactivated hydrosilanesviaserial organolithium reactions catalyzed by earth-abundant metal compounds. Based on the screening of various additives, we found that catalytic potassiumtert-butoxide (t-BuOK) facilitates the rapid reaction of organolithiums with hydrosilanes. Using a flow microreactor system, various organolithiums bearing functional groups were efficiently generatedin situunder mild conditions and consecutively reacted with hydrosilanes in the presence oft-BuOK within 1 min. We also successfully conducted the di-funtionalizations of dihydrosilane by sequential organolithium reactions, extending to a gram-scale-synthesis. Finally, the combinatorial functionalizations of trihydrosilane were achieved to give every conceivable combination of tetrasubstituted organosilane libraries based on a precise reaction control using an integrated one-flow system.