Copper-Free Double Silylation of 1,2-Dibromobenzenes Using a Mg/LiCl/DMI System

The reaction of 1,2-dibromobenzenes with chlorotrimethylsilane efficiently proceeded in the presence of Mg and LiCl in DMI under mild conditions, giving 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl) benzenes in good to high yields. The reaction of 1,2-dibromobenzenes with chlorodimethylsilane under the same conditions afforded the corresponding 1,2-bis(dimethylsilyl)benzenes in high yields. Functional group transformations of 1,2bis(trimethylsilyl)benzene were conducted to demonstrate the synthetic utility.