Formation and Utility of Azasilacyclopentadienes Derived from Silacyclopropenes and Nitriles

The copper-catalyzed insertions of nitriles into the Si-C bonds of silacyclopropenes provide azasilacyclopentadienes, which can be converted to allylic amines after reduction and protodesilylation. The enamine functionality of azasilacyclopentadienes also participates in 1,4-addition reactions and undergoes a hydroboration and oxidation sequence to form an allylic 1,2-amino alcohol.