Ruthenium-catalysed hydrosilylation of carbon–carbon multiple bonds

Ruthenium-based complexes are generally considered to be efficient catalysts due to their high activity and electron transfer features. Although there are a limited number of highly selective olefin hydrosilylation protocols with ruthenium catalysts, recently a wide variety of the ruthenium complexes has been reported as unique catalyst precursors for the regiocontrolled hydrosilylation of alkynes. The ruthenium-catalysed hydrosilylation of alkynes represents one of the most efficient and straightforward methods for the synthesis of stereodefined vinylsilanes, which are particularly attractive scaffolds for further transformations including palladium-catalysed cross-coupling with organic halides or desilylative oxidation. The article highlights recent developments and covers the literature from the last two decades with respect to the ruthenium-catalysed hydrosilylation of alkenes and alkynes with particular emphasis on its application in organic synthesis.