Trivalent Rare‐Earth Metal Amide Complexes as Catalysts for the Hydrosilylation of Benzophenone Derivatives with HN(SiHMe(2))(2) by Amine‐Exchange Reaction

The rare‐earth metal complexes Ln(L(1))[N(SiHMe(2))(2)](thf) (Ln=La, Ce, Y; L(1)=N,N′′‐bis(pentafluorophenyl)diethylenetriamine dianion) were synthesized by treating Ln[N(SiHMe(2))(2)](3)(thf)(2) with L(1)H(2). The lanthanum and cerium derivatives are active catalysts for the hydrosilylation of benzophenone derivatives with HN(SiHMe(2))(2). An amine‐exchange reaction was revealed as a key step of the catalytic cycle, in which Ln−Si−H β‐agostic interactions are proposed to promote insertion of the carbonyl moiety into the Si−H bond.