The synthesis of the first spiropentasilane, octamethylsiropentasilane
Abstract
The action of lithium metal on tetrakis(dimethylbromisilyl)silane or tetrakis(dimethylchlorosilyl)silane in tetrahydrofuran produces the first spiropentasilane, a higly strained polysilane that undergoes efficient cleavage reactions with lithium aluminium hydride, methylmagnesium bromide and phosphorus pentachloride.