In this Perspective we discuss the ability of transition metal complexes to activate and cleave the Si–H and B–H bonds of hydrosilanes and hydroboranes (tri- and tetra-coordinated) in an electrophilic manner, avoiding the need for the metal centre to undergo two-electron processes (oxidative addition/reductive elimination). A formal polarization of E–H bonds (E = Si, B) upon their coordination to the metal centre to form σ-EH complexes (with coordination modes η¹ or η²) favors this type of bond activation that can lead to reactivities involving the formation of transient silylium and borenium/boronium cations similar to those proposed in silylation and borylation processes catalysed by boron and aluminium Lewis acids. We compare the reactivity of transition metal complexes and boron/aluminium Lewis acids through a series of catalytic reactions in which pieces of evidence suggest mechanisms involving electrophilic reaction pathways.

中文翻译：

---

路易斯酸性过渡金属和 p 区元素对 Si-H 和 B-H 键的活化：相同，但不同

在这个观点中，我们讨论了过渡金属配合物以亲电子方式激活和裂解氢硅烷和氢硼烷（三配位和四配位）的 Si-H 和 B-H 键的能力，避免了金属中心经过双电子过程（氧化加成/还原消除）。E-H 键 (E = Si, B) 与金属中心配位形成 σ-EH 配合物时的形式极化（配位模式为 η ¹或 η ²) 有利于这种类型的键活化，这种键活化可以导致反应性的形成，类似于在硼和铝路易斯酸催化的甲硅烷基化和硼化过程中提出的那些短暂的甲硅烷和硼/硼阳离子的形成。我们通过一系列催化反应比较了过渡金属配合物和硼/铝路易斯酸的反应性，其中一些证据表明涉及亲电反应途径的机制。