Stepwise carbon dioxide hydrosilylation catalyzed by bimetallic complexes [CpM(CO)2(μ-CO)···Pd(ButPCP)]

The interaction of bimetallic (${}^{{\mathrm{Bu}}^t}\mathrm{PCP}$)Pd···(OC)M(CO)₂ Cp (M = Mo, W) complexes with PhSiH₃ leads to an efficient heterolytic splitting of Si–H bond that is a primary step in catalytic hydrosilylation of CO₂. The reaction can be stopped at the formate level in the presence of the above complexes while proceeds further when catalyzed by (${}^{{\mathrm{Bu}}^t}\mathrm{PCP}$)PdH.