Agostic Si–H bond coordination assists C–H bond activation at ruthenium in bis(phosphinobenzylsilane) complexes.

Reaction of a phosphinobenzylsilane compound with ruthenium complexes leads to C–H and/or Si–H activation. The new complex Ru{η2-H–SiMe2CH(o-C6H4)PPh2}2 (5) was isolated and X-ray, NMR and DFT studies reveal that 5 displays two agostic Si–H interactions and two carbon-metallated bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]