Silylformylation of chiral 1-alkynes, catalyzed by solvated rhodium atoms

Solvated rhodium atoms, prepared by the metal vapour synthesis technique, promote the silylformylation reaction of variously substituted alkynes R1R2CH(CH2)nC;CH, with catalytic activities comparable with and even higher than more common species such as Rh4(CO)12. Z-Silylalkenals are exclusively formed in high yields (60-95%) indicating syn addition both of CO and of the silane (Me2PhSiH) to the triple bond. The chemoselectivity of the process (silylformylation vs. hydrosilylation) is highly affected by the amount of cata-lyst employed (mmol of Rh species with respect to the alkyne reagent), by the steric requirements of the acetylenic substrates and by the hydrosilane/alkyne molar ratio. When optically active acetylenes are treated in the presence of Me2PhSiH under carbon monoxide pressure, the silylformylation reaction occurs with total retention of stereochemistry of the stereogenic centre, even if it is at the á-position of the unsaturated moiety, to afford enantiomerically enriched â-silylalkenals