Aromatic C–H silylation of arenes with 1-hydrosilatrane catalyzed by an iridium(I)/2,9-dimethylphenanthroline (dmphen) complex

Aromatic C–H silylation of neat arenes with 1-hydrosilatrane was found to be efficiently catalyzed by iridium catalysts composed of 1/2[Ir(OMe)(cod)]2 and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline at 120 °C to afford the corresponding silylated products in high yields. The silylated products can be used for the Hiyama cross-coupling reaction.