Sensitised (electron-transfer) photochemical reactions of cyclopolysilanes, (R1R2Si)n(n= 3 or 4), in a polar, nucleophilic solvent; electron donating nature of cyclopolysilanes (n= 3–7)

Abstract

Irradiation (<390 nm) of cyclopolysilanes, (R¹R²Si)_n(n= 3 or 4), in a mixed solvent (EtOH-MeCN-cyclo-C₆H₁₂), with 9,10-dicyanoanthracene as sensitiser, gave the corresponding α-ethoxy-ω-hydropolysilanes resulting from ring-opening addition of ethanol to the polysilanes; a mechanism involving facile electron transfer from the polysilanes is proposed.