Versatile Conversion ofN-Heterocyclic Silylene to Silyl Metal Compounds by Insertion of Divalent Silicon into Metal-Carbon and Metal-Hydrogen Bonds

Bis-Silylene-Supported Aluminium Atoms with Aluminylene and Alane Character

The suitability of electron-rich bis-silylenes, specifically the neutral chelating [SiII(Xant)SiII] ligand (SiII=PhC(NtBu)2Si, Xant=9,9-dimethylxanthene) and the anionic [SiII(NAcrid)SiII)]- pincer ligand (NAcrid=2,7,9,9-tetramethylacridane), has been successfully probed to stabilize monovalent bis-silylene-supported aluminium complexes (aluminylenes). At first, the unprecedented aluminium(III) iodide precursors [SiII(Xant)SiII]AlI2 + I- 1 and [SiII(NAcrid)SiII)]AlI2 2 were synthesized using AlI3 and [SiII(Xant)SiII] or [SiII(NAcrid)SiII)]Li(OEt2)], respectively, and structurally characterized. While reduction of 1 with KC8 led merely to unidentified products, the dehalogenation of 2 afforded the dimer of the desired {[SiII(NAcrid)SiII)]Al:} aluminylene with a four-membered SiIV 2AlIII 2 ring. Remarkably, the proposed aluminylene intermediates [SiII(Xant)SiII]AlII and {[SiII(NAcrid)SiII)]Al:} could be produced through reaction of 1 and 2 with Collman's reagent, K2Fe(CO)4, and trapped as AlI:→Fe(CO)4 complexes 5 and 6, respectively. While 6 is stable in solution, 5 loses one CO ligand in solution to afford the silylene- and aluminylene-coordinated iron(0) complex 7 from an intramolecular substitution reaction. The electronic structures of the novel compounds were investigated by Density Functional Theory calculations.

Synthesis and Reactivity of Aluminum Disilacyclopropenes. Cyclic AlSi2 Delocalized 2π Systems

The synthesis, structures, and reactivity of the first unsaturated AlSi2 three-membered ring systems were described. Reactions of dilithiodisilene [(NHB)LiSi═SiLi(NHB)] (1, NHB = diazaborolyl) with aluminum halides AlCl3, Ar(SiMe3)NAlCl2 (Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3), Cp*AlBr2 (Cp* = C5Me5), and TipAlBr2·Et2O (Tip = 2,4,6-iPr3C6H2) led to the formation of AlSi2 three-membered ring species, solvated (NHBSi)2AlCl(OEt2) (2) and solvent-free (NHBSi)2AlN(SiMe3) Ar (3), (NHBSi)2AlCp* (4), and (NHBSi)2AlTip (5), in good yields. X-ray diffraction studies and DFT calculations disclosed delocalized AlSi2 2π electron systems. Methanolysis of 4a resulted in cleavage of the Al-Si σ and Si-Si π bonds, giving trihydrodisilane (NHB)H(MeO)SiSiH2 (NHB) (6). Reaction of 4b with 4 equiv of N2O and H2C═CH2 resulted in the insertion of four oxygen atoms and four H2C═CH2 π bonds into all of the Al-Si and Si-Si bonds, yielding the O- and CH2CH2-bridged polycyclic species 7 and 8, demonstrating the synergistic reactivity of the Al-Si and Si-Si bonds in the AlSi2 ring system.

Molecular Main Group Metal Hydrides

This review serves to document advances in the synthesis, versatile bonding, and reactivity of molecular main group metal hydrides within Groups 1, 2, and 12-16. Particular attention will be given to the emerging use of said hydrides in the rapidly expanding field of Main Group element-mediated catalysis. While this review is comprehensive in nature, focus will be given to research appearing in the open literature since 2001.

(PhC(NtBu)2Al)2(SiH2)4 six-membered heterocycle: comparable in structure to cyclohexane

A (PhC(NtBu)₂Al)₂(SiH₂)₄ centrosymmetric six-membered heterocycle (LAl)₂(SiH₂)₄ (L = PhC(NtBu)₂) with chair conformation is prepared by reacting disilylene LSi–SiL with alane AlH₃·NEtMe₂. It is comparable in structure to cyclohexane containing four Si and two Al atoms as a core.

Exceptionally Strong Electron-Donating Ability of Bora-Ylide Substituent vis-à-vis Silylene and Silylium Ion

Electropositive boron-based substituent (phosphonium bora-ylide) with an exceptionally strong π- and σ-electron donating character dramatically increases the stability of a new type of N-heterocyclic silylene 2 featuring amino- and bora-ylide-substituents. Moreover, the related silylium ion 4 and transition-metal-silylene complexes, with trigonal-planar geometries around the silicon center, are also well stabilized. Therefore, the N,B-heterocyclic silylene 2 can be used as a strongly electron-donating innocent ligand in coordination chemistry similarly to N-heterocyclic carbenes.

Soil Microbial Forensics

Soil microbial forensics can be defined as the study of how microorganisms can be applied to forensic investigations. The field of soil microbial forensics is of increasing interest and applies techniques commonly used in diverse disciplines in order to identify microbes and determine their abundances, complexities, and interactions with soil and surrounding objects. Emerging new techniques are also providing insights into the complexity of microbes in soil. Soil may harbor unique microbes that may reflect specific physical and chemical characteristics indicating site specificity. While applications of some of these techniques in the field of soil microbial forensics are still in early stages, we are still gaining insight into how microorganisms may be more robustly used in forensic investigations.

Hydrosilylation in Aryliminopyrrolide-Substituted Silanes

A range of silanes was synthesized by the reaction of HSiCl3 with iminopyrrole derivatives in the presence of NEt3 . In certain cases, intramolecular hydrosilylation converts the imine ligand into an amino substituent. This reaction is inhibited by factors such as electron-donating substitution on Si and steric bulk. The monosubstituted ((Dipp) IMP)SiHMeCl ((Dipp) IMP=2-[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)iminomethyl]pyrrolide), is stable towards hydrosilylation, but slow hydrosilylation is observed for ((Dipp) IMP)SiHCl2 . Reaction of two equivalents of (Dipp) IMPH with HSiCl3 results in the hydrosilylation product ((Dipp) AMP)((Dipp) IMP)SiCl ((Dipp) AMP=2-[N-(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)aminomethylene]pyrrolide), but the trisubsitituted ((Dipp) IMP)3 SiH is stable. Monitoring the hydrosilylation reaction of ((Dipp) IMP)SiHCl2 reveals a reactive pathway involving ligand redistribution reactions to form the disubstituted ((Dipp) AMP)((Dipp) IMP)SiCl as an intermediate. The reaction is strongly accelerated in the presence of chloride anions.

Five-coordinate silicon(II) compounds with Si-M bonds (M = Cr, Mo, W, Fe): Bis[N,N'-diisopropylbenzamidinato(-)]silicon(II) as a ligand in transition-metal complexes

Reaction of the donor-stabilized silylene 1 with [Cr(CO)6], [Mo(CO)6], [W(CO)6], or [Fe(CO)5] leads to the formation of the transition-metal silylene complexes 2-5, which contain five-coordinate silicon(II) moieties with Si-M bonds (M = Cr, Mo, W, Fe). These compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopic studies in the solid state and in solution and by crystal structure analyses. These experimental investigations were complemented by computational studies to gain insight into the bonding situation of 2-5. The nature of the Si-M bonds is best described as a single bond.