Au Nanoparticle-Catalyzed Insertion of Carbenes from α-Diazocarbonyl Compounds into Hydrosilanes.

Supported Au nanoparticles on TiO2 catalyze the insertion of carbenes from α-diazocabonyl compounds into hydrosilanes. It is proposed that the transformation involves two modes of catalytic activation: formation of nucleophilic Au carbenes on the surface of nanoparticle via expulsion of N2 and activation of the Si-H bond of hydrosilane on Au nanoparticle, followed by coupling of the chemisorbed species. No external ligands or additives are required, while the process is purely heterogeneous, thus allowing the recycling and reuse of the catalyst.