Silicon- and tin-based cuprates: now catalytic in copper!

Silicon- and tin-containing molecules are versatile building blocks in organic synthesis. A stalwart method for their preparation relies on the stoichiometric use of silicon- and tin-based cuprates, although a few copper(I)-catalyzed or even copper-free protocols have been known for decades. In this Concept, we describe our efforts towards copper(I)-catalyzed carbon--silicon and also carbon--tin bond formations using soft bis(triorganosilyl) and bis(triorganostannyl) zinc reagents as powerful sources of nucleophilic silicon and tin. Conjugate addition, allylic substitution, and carbon--carbon multiple bond functionalization is now catalytic in copper!