Stable and Easy-to-handle Surrogate of Monosilane (SiH₄)

Tri(cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-yl)silane (1) is used as a surrogate of monosilane (SiH₄). In the presence of catalytic amounts of B(C₆F₅)₃, an allylic hydride of cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl groups of 1 is transferred to form an Si–H bond-substituted silane 2 with the release of benzene. Sequential B(C₆F₅)₃-catalyzed further replacement of two remaining cyclohexa-2,5-dienyl moieties by Si–H bonds proceeds to afford monosilane. The given monosilane can be directly applied to the transfer hydrosilylation of alkenes.