Synthesis and Reactivity of N‐Heterocyclic Silylene Stabilized Disilicon(0) Complexes
Shaozhi Du, Hongwei Jia, Rong Hua, Haibin Song, Chunming Cui, Zhenbo Mo
Abstract
Abstract Synthesis and reactivity of disilicon(0) complexes are of fundamental and application importance. Herein, we report the development of an N‐heterocyclic imino‐substituted silylene ( 1 ), which has strong σ‐donating ability and is significantly sterically hindered. The one‐pot reaction of this silylene with [IPr→SiCl 2 ] (IPr=1,3‐bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐imidazol‐2‐ylidene) and KC 8 (2 equiv) in THF at −30 °C leads to a silylene‐ligated disilicon(0) complex ( 2 ), isolated as red crystals in 60 % yield. Characterization data and DFT calculations show that the trans ‐bent Si 4 skeleton in 2 features a Si 0 =Si 0 double bond with significant π–π bonding and one lone pair of electrons on each of these two Si 0 atoms. Complex 2 reacts readily with phenylacetylene, producing a structurally intriguing silatricyclic complex 6,8‐diaza‐1,2,5‐trisilatricyclo‐[3.2.1.0 2,7 ]‐oct‐3‐ene ( 3 ), and revealing new aspects of low‐valent silicon chemistry.