Et2SiH2 assisted the selective dimerization of terminal alkynes catalyzed by Cp*2UMe2

A practical approach has been developed for the catalytic synthesis of short oligomers, dimers and/or trimers of terminal alkynes. The method allows control of the extent and, in some cases, the regiospecificity in the catalyzed oligomerization of terminal alkynes promoted by bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)uranium dimethyl complex (Cp*2U(CH3)2, Cp*=C5Me5). The metallocene precursor is known to promote the simultaneous production of a large number of differently sized oligomers in the presence of terminal alkynes. However, the addition of a specific secondary silane ensures the selective synthesis of short oligomers.