Organophotocatalyzed C−Si Bond Fragmentation Using Silyl Ethers as Radical Precursors.

In this work, silyl ethers of phenols and alcohols have been successfully prepared and tested as neutral carbon (silicon) centered radical precursors. The organophotocatalyzed oxidation (by the Fukuzumi catalyst) of these ethers caused the cleavage of a C−Si (or a Si−Si) bond for the release of the desired radical to be used for the forging of C(sp3) −C(sp3) (or C(sp3) −Si) bonds via a Giese reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]