InCl3/I2-catalyzed cross-coupling of alkyl trimethylsilyl ethers and allylsilanes via an in situ derived combined Lewis acid of InCl3 and Me3SiI.

Direct Csp3-Csp3 coupling of various aliphatic trimethylsilyl ethers and allylsilanes is effectively catalyzed by InCl3 and I2. The transformation is thought to involve an in situ-derived combined Lewis acid of InCl3 and Me3SiI. The reaction can be used for the construction of quaternary-quaternary and quaternary-tertiary carbon-carbon bonds. This system enabled a highly chemoselective coupling to be conducted with a trimethylsilyl ether including an aryl halide moiety. Furthermore, couplings were possible using an alkynyltrimethylsilane and a trimethylsilyl ketene acetal.