Homocoupling of CO and isocyanide mediated by a C,C′-bis(silylenyl)-substituted ortho-carborane

Abstract

The unexpected reactivity of the o-carborane supported bis-silylene [(LSi:)C]₂B₁₀H₁₀1 {L= PhC(tBuN)₂} towards carbon monoxide and 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide is reported. While the reaction of 1 with CO leads selectively to the novel head-to-head coupling and C–O cleavage product 2 from two molecules 1 and four molecules CO, the reaction of 1 with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide affords solely the 1 : 2 molar head-to-tail coupling product 3 with a SiC bond.