Synthesis of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene derivatives from 1,2-dichlorobenzenes using a hybrid metal Mg/CuCl in the presence of LiCl in 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone.

A practical and safe synthesis of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene from 1,2-dichlorobenzene and Me3SiCl was achieved by use of a hybrid metal of Mg and CuCl in the presence of LiCl in 1,3-dimethyl-2-imidazolidinone (DMI). This method does not require a toxic HMPA, provides a high yield of the product under mild conditions, and is also applied to synthesis of substituted 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)benzenes and poly(trimethylsilyl)benzenes.