Molecular interactions of polysilane and unsaturated nitrogen compounds. Photochemical addition of disilene versus silylene to azobenzene

Abstract

Photochemical reaction of hexamesitylcyclotrisilane 1 or tetramesityldisilene 2 with azobenzene produces silanol 5via hydrolysis of diazasilacyclopropane 3 and/or 1,2-diaza-3,4-disilacyclobutane 4; the structure of 4 has been confirmed by variable temperature ¹H NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction, the existence of an Si₂N₂ ring system is demonstrated.