Reactivity studies of silylene [PhC(NtBu)2](C5Me5)Si – reactions with [M(COD)Cl]2 (M = Rh(i), Ir(i)), S, Se, Te, and BH3

Abstract

The reactivity of recently introduced N-heterocyclic silylene [PhC(NtBu)₂](C₅Me₅)Si was evaluated. Three different reaction pathways were studied: (1) coordination to a Lewis acid, (2) oxidation by chalcogenides, and (3) coordination to transition metal complexes. The reaction of the silylene with BH₃ led to the adduct [PhC(NtBu)₂](C₅Me₅)Si(BH)₃. Oxidation with the elemental chalcogens sulphur, selenium, and tellurium resulted in the corresponding silicon(IV)–chalcogenide compounds [PhC(NtBu)₂](C₅Me₅)SiS, [PhC(NtBu)₂](C₅Me₅)SiSe and [PhC(NtBu)₂](C₅Me₅)SiTe. Treatment of the silylene with dimeric group 9 transition metal complexes [Ir(COD)Cl]₂ and [Rh(COD)Cl]₂ gave square planar coordinated transition metal silylene complexes [{PhC(NtBu)₂}(C₅Me₅)Si–Rh(COD)(Cl)] and [{PhC(NtBu)₂}(C₅Me₅)Si–Ir(COD)(Cl)].