Alkylative Preparation of α-Silylalkylmagnesium from R3 SiCHBr2 Using a Magnesate Reagent.

Magnesium-bromine exchange to provide the 1-bromo-1-silylmethylmagnesium species is mediated by treatment of dibromomethylsilane with an trialkylmagnesate reagent. The addition of a copper catalyst induces facile migration of an alkyl group to afford an α-silylalkylmagnesium compound, which furnishes α-silyl ketones in good yield upon treatment with acyl chloride.