1,4-Bis(diphenylhydrosilyl)benzene

1,4-Bis(diphenylhydrosilyl)benzene is used as a reducing reagent for esters under radical conditions.

1,4-Bis(diphenylhydrosilyl)benzene is easily prepared by the Grignard reaction of Chlorodiphenylsilane with p-dibromobenzene (eq 1).

1,4-Bis(diphenylhydrosilyl)benzene reacts with acetates in the presence of the radical generator 1,1-Di-t-butyl Peroxide (DTBP) at 140 °C to give the corresponding hydrocarbons (eq 2).