Dinuclear and tetranuclear group 10 metal complexes constructed from linear tetrasilane comprising both Si-H and Si-Si moieties

The activation of Si-H bonds and/or Si-Si bonds in organosilicon compounds by transition-metal species plays a crucial role for the production of functional organosilicon compounds. Although group-10-metal species are frequently used to activate Si-H and/or Si-Si bonds, so far, systematic investigation to clarify the preferences of these metal species with respect to the activation of Si-H and/or Si-Si bonds remain elusive. Here, we report that platinum(0) species that bear isocyanide or N-heterocyclic-carbene (NHC) ligands selectively activates the terminal Si-H bonds of the linear tetrasilane Ph₂(H)SiSiPh₂SiPh₂Si(H)Ph₂ in a stepwise manner, whereby the Si-Si bonds remain intact. In contrast, analogous palladium(0) species are preferably inserted into the Si-Si bonds of the same linear tetrasilane, whereby the terminal Si-H bonds remain intact. Substitution of the terminal hydride groups in Ph₂(H)SiSiPh₂SiPh₂Si(H)Ph₂ with chloride groups leads to the insertion of platinum(0) isocyanide into all Si-Si bonds to afford an unprecedented zig-zag Pt₄ cluster.

Triangular Palladium Cluster from Activation of the Si-Si Bond in a Disilane with Phosphine Pendants

A disilane that contains two diphenylphosphino moieties, (Ph₂PCH₂)Ph₂Si-SiPh₂(CH₂PPh), was readily synthesized from the reaction of ClPh₂Si-SiPh₂Cl with (tmeda)Li(CH₂PPh₂). Treatment of the thus-obtained disilane with the palladium(0) precursor [Pd(CN^tBu)₂]₃ led to the exclusive formation of a trinuclear palladium cluster in which three palladium atoms are arranged in a triangular fashion. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the obtained triangular cluster revealed that novel silylphosphido chelating ligands were formed via a skeletal rearrangement of the ligand framework.

Insertion of Ni(0) and Pd(0) precursors into the Si-Si bond of a disilane with two hypercoordinate silicon atoms

The activation of the silicon-silicon bond in disilane Ph2Si(μ-PzMe2)2SiPh2 (1), which possesses two five-coordinate silicon centers, was achieved by a reaction with Pd(0) or Ni(0) precursors of modest steric demand to afford a dinuclear Pd complex (2) or two types of mononuclear Ni complexes (3 and 4), respectively.

Trapping of two mononuclear silyl platinum(ii)/palladium(ii) complexes and a unique dinuclear bis(μ2-disilene)(silyl)nickel(ii) complex

Two rare mononuclear bis(silyl)platinum(ii)/palladium(ii) intermediates and an unprecedented dinuclear bis(μ₂-disilene)(silyl)nickel(ii) complex have been trapped and prepared.

Disilametallacyclic chemistry for efficient catalysis

Disilametallacyclic species of late transition metals behave as key intermediates for efficient catalytic reactions proceeding through new mechanisms.

Ligand dependence of π-complex character in disilene–palladium complexes

The synthesis and structures of new 16-electron disilene palladium complexes with 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide and phenyldimethylphosphine ligands [L(1)L(2)Pd{(t-BuMe(2)Si)(2)Si=Si(SiMe(2)Bu-t)(2)}, where L(1) = L(2) = PhMe(2)P; L(1) = (cyclohexyl)(3)P, L(2) = 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide; L(1) = L(2) = 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide] are described. Comparison of the X-ray structural parameters around the disilene moiety among these complexes and related bis(trimethylphosphine)(disilene)palladium and 14-electron (tricyclohexylphosphine)(disilene)palladium revealed that the pi-complex character is sensitive to the residual ligands and increases with decreasing the strength of sigma-donation from the ligands.

Palladium-catalyzed bissilylation of arynes with cyclic disilanes: synthesis of benzo-annulated disilacarbocycles

Arynes, generated in situ from 2-(trimethylsilyl)aryl triflate and a fluoride ion, were found to insert into a silicon-silicon bond of cyclic disilanes in the presence of a catalytic amount of a palladium-tert-alkyl isocyanide complex to afford diverse benzo-annulated disilacarbocycles straightforwardly in modest to high yields.

Synthesis and structure of formally hexavalent palladium complexes

Formally hexavalent palladium complexes have been isolated and structurally characterized for the first time. Thermal condensation reaction of three molecules of 1,2-C6H4(SiH2)2PdII(R2PCH2CH2PR2) (where R is defined as a methyl or ethyl) provided trinuclear palladium complexes. Single-crystal x-ray analysis revealed that each of the central palladium atoms of the complexes is ligated by six silicon atoms and is hexavalent, whereas the other palladium atoms are divalent.