NHC catalysed trimethylsilylation of terminal alkynes and indoles with Ruppert's reagent under solvent free conditions

An organo-catalytic protocol for the trimethylsilylation of terminal alkynes employing Ruppert's reagent (CF 3 SiMe 3 ) as a trimethylsilyl source has been developed under solvent and fluoride free conditions. This method was found to be very effective as a variety of terminal alkynes bearing aliphatic or aromatic substituents underwent smooth transformation to their corresponding silylated products in excellent yields within a few minutes using N-heterocyclic carbene as an organo-catalyst. This methodology was also applied to the chemospecific N-silylation of indoles.