Reaction of Trialkyl(dibromomethyl)silanes or 1,2-Bis(dibromomethyl)benzene with Triorganomanganates. A Facile and Selective Synthesis of Alkenylsilanes and 1,2-Diaryl-1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobutenes

Treatment of trialkyl(dibromomethyl)silanes with trialkylmanganates, derived from manganese(II) chloride and three molar amounts of Grignard reagents or alkyllithiums, provided (E)-1-trialkylsilyl-1-alkenes with high stereoselectivity in good yields. The reaction of trialkyl(dibromomethyl)silanes with alkylmagnesium halides proceeded in the presence of a catalytic amount of manganese(II) chloride. Treatment of 1,2-bis(dibromomethyl)benzene with triphenylmanganate gave 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-dihydrobenzocyclobutene.