A Stable Homoleptic Divinyl Tetrelene Series
Matthew M. D. Roy, Samuel R. Baird, Eike Dornsiepen, Lucas A. Paul, Linkun Miao, Michael J. Ferguson, Yuqiao Zhou, Inke Siewert, Eric Rivard
Abstract
Abstract The synthesis of the new bulky vinyllithium reagent ( Me IPr=CH)Li, ( Me IPr=[(MeCNDipp) 2 C]; Dipp=2,6‐ i Pr 2 C 6 H 3 ) is reported. This vinyllithium precursor was found to act as a general source of the anionic 2σ, 2π‐electron donor ligand [ Me IPr=CH] − . Furthermore, a high‐yielding route to the degradation‐resistant Si II precursor Me IPr⋅SiBr 2 is presented. The efficacy of ( Me IPr=CH)Li in synthesis was demonstrated by the generation of a complete inorganic divinyltetrelene series ( Me IPrCH) 2 E: (E=Si to Pb). ( Me IPrCH) 2 Si: represents the first two‐coordinate acyclic silylene not bound by heteroatom donors, with dual electrophilic and nucleophilic character at the Si II center noted. Cyclic voltammetry shows this electron‐rich silylene to be a potent reducing agent, rivalling the reducing power of the 19‐electron complex cobaltocene (Cp 2 Co).