Interconnected bis-silylenes: a new dimension in organosilicon chemistry

The past two decades have brought remarkable advances in organosilicon chemistry with the isolation of stable silylenes, persila-allene, and disilynes. The extension of this list gives an impression that it will continue to flourish. The judicous employment of sterically appropriate ligands has enabled the synthesis and isolation of compounds with low-valent silicon. Recently, for example, interconnected bis-silylenes were isolated where the two Si atoms are connected by a σ-bond and each Si atom is possessing a lone pair of electrons. The formal oxidation state of each Si atom in the interconnected bis-silylene is +1, so bis-silylenes can be considered as the valence isomers of disilynes. In this Account, we describe the synthesis of interconnected bis-silylenes and assess their potential as a new building block in organosilicon chemistry. In 2009, we reported the isolation of a bis-silylene ((PhC(NtBu)(2))(2)Si(2)) stabilized by a sterically bulky benz-amidinato ligand with tBu substituents on the nitrogen atoms. Prior to our work, Robinson and co-workers described the synthesis of a N-heterocyclic carbene stabilized bis-silylene. In following years, just two more interconnected bis-silylenes have been reported. Density functional theory calculations to establish the geometric and electronic structures of the reported bis-silylenes have shown that the Wiberg bond index (WBI) for all the reported bis-silylenes is ~1. The synthesis of stable (PhC(NtBu)(2))(2)Si(2) prompted explorations of its reactivity. An important facet of silylene chemistry involves oxidative addition at the Si(II) center with unsaturated substrates, a reaction also available for bis-silylenes. Due to the three reaction sites (two lone pairs of electrons and a labile Si(I)-Si(I) single bond) in the interconnected bis-silylenes, we expect novel product formation. A labile Si-Si bond facilitates the reactions of (PhC(NtBu)(2))(2)Si(2) with diphenyl alkyne or adamantyl phosphaalkyne which afforded 1,4- disilabenzene and 1,3-disilacarbaphosphide (CSi(2)P) derivatives, respectively. The former is a noteworthy addition to the silicon analogues of benzene, and the latter serves as a heavy cyclobutadiene. With white phosphorus, a cyclic Si(2)P(2) derivative, an analogue of cyclobutadiene was obtained. The most predominant structural feature of these heavy cyclobutadienes is the presence of two-coordinate P atoms.

Chemistry of soluble β-diketiminatoalkaline-earth metal complexes with M-X bonds (M=Mg, Ca, Sr; X=OH, Halides, H)

Victor Grignard's Nobel Prize-winning preparation of organomagnesium halides (Grignard reagents) marked the formal beginning of organometallic chemistry with alkaline earth metals. Further development of this invaluable synthetic route, RX+Mg→RMgX, with the heavier alkaline earth metals (Ca and Sr) was hampered by limitations in synthetic methodologies. Moreover, the lack of suitable ligands for stabilizing the reactive target molecules, particularly with the more electropositive Ca and Sr, was another obstacle. The absence in the literature, until just recently, of fundamental alkaline earth metal complexes with M-H, M-F, and M-OH (where M is the Group 2 metal Mg, Ca, or Sr) bonds amenable for organometallic reactions is remarkable. The progress in isolating various unstable compounds of p-block elements with β-diketiminate ligands was recently applied to Group 2 chemistry. The monoanionic β-diketiminate ligands are versatile tools for addressing synthetic challenges, as amply demonstrated with alkaline earth complexes: the synthesis and structural characterization of soluble β-diketiminatocalcium hydroxide, β-diketiminatostrontium hydroxide, and β-diketiminatocalcium fluoride are just a few examples of our contribution to this area of research. To advance the chemistry beyond synthesis, we have investigated the reactivity and potential for applications of these species, for example, through the demonstration of dip coating surfaces with CaCO(3) and CaF(2) with solutions of the calcium hydroxide and calcium fluoride complexes, respectively. In this Account, we summarize some recent developments in alkaline earth metal complex chemistry, particularly of Mg, Ca, and Sr, through the utilization of β-diketiminate ligands. We focus on results generated in our laboratory but give due mention to work from other groups as well. We also highlight the closely related chemistry of the Group 12 element Zn, as well as the important chemistry developed by other groups using the complexes we have reported. Although Mg and Ca are more abundant in living organisms, no other metal has as many biological functions as Zn. Thus Zn, the nontoxic alternative to the heavier Group 12 elements Cd and Hg, occupies a unique position ripe for further exploration.

Anthryl-substituted trialkyldisilene showing distinct intramolecular charge-transfer transition

1-Naphthyl-, 9-phenanthryl-, and 9-anthryl-substituted trialkyldisilenes 1-3 were synthesized as the first stable disilenes with single polycyclic aromatic substituents, allowing elucidation of the unprecedented intramolecular charge transfer interaction between disilene pi and aromatic pi systems. Anthryl-substituted disilene 3 having a low-lying pi*(aryl) LUMO showed a distinct ICT absorption band due to the charge transfer from a disilene pi donor to an aromatic pi acceptor.

Organostannoxane-Supported Multiferrocenyl Assemblies: Synthesis, Novel Supramolecular Structures, and Electrochemistry

Organostannoxane-based multiredox assemblies containing ferrocenyl peripheries have been readily synthesized by a simple one-pot synthesis, either by a solution method or by room-temperature solid-state synthesis, in nearly quantitative yields. The number of ferrocenyl units in the multiredox assembly is readily varied by stoichiometric control as well as by the choice of the organotin precursors. Thus, the reaction of the diorganotin oxides, R2SnO (R = Ph, nBu and tBu) with ferrocene carboxylic acid affords tetra-, di-, and mononuclear derivatives [{Ph2Sn[OC(O)Fc]2}2] (1), [{[nBu2SnOC(O)Fc]2O}2] (2), [nBu2Sn{OC(O)Fc}2] (3), [{tBu2Sn(OH)OC(O)Fc}2] (4), and [tBu2Sn{OC(O)Fc}2] (5) (Fc = eta(5)C5H4-Fe-eta(5)C5H5). The reaction of triorganotin oxides, R3SnOSnR3 (R = nBu and Ph) with ferrocene carboxylic acid leads to the formation of the mono-nuclear derivatives [Ph3SnOC(O)Fc] (6) and [{nBu3SnOC(O)Fc}(n)] (7). Molecular structures of the compounds 1-4 and 6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The molecular structure of compound 1 is new among organotin carboxylates. In this compound, ferrocenyl carboxylates are involved in both chelating and bridging coordination modes to the tin atoms to form an eight-membered cyclic structure. In all of these compounds, the acidic protons of the cyclopentadienyl groups are hydrogen bonded to the carboxylate oxygens (C-HO) to form rich supramolecular assemblies. In addition to this, pi-pi, T-shaped, L-shaped, and side-to-face stacking interactions involving ferrocenyl groups also occur. Compound 6 shows an interesting and novel intermolecular CO2-pi stacking interaction. Electrochemical analysis of the compounds 1-4, 6, and 7 shows a single, quasi-reversible oxidation peak corresponding to the simultaneous oxidation of four, two, and one ferrocenyl substituents, respectively. Compound 5 shows two quasi-reversible oxidation peaks. This is attributed to the positional difference among the ferrocenyl substituents on the tin atom. Additionally, while compounds 2 and 4 are electrochemically quite robust and do not decompose even after ten continuous CV cycles, compounds 1, and 3, 5-7 start to show decomposition after five cycles.

A Lipophilic Hexaporphyrin Assembly Supported on a Stannoxane Core

Lipophilic hexaporphyrin free-base and copper-metalated assemblies supported on a Sn6O6 core have been synthesized and characterized. The nuclease activity of the copper derivative has been studied.

A cationic aluminium complex: an efficient mononuclear main-group catalyst for the cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds

Main-group catalysis: A cationic aluminium complex supported by a semi-bulky aminotroponate ligand was synthesized. It functioned as an excellent catalyst of the cyanosilylation of carbonyl compounds using TMSCN.

First example of a Sn-C bond cleaved product in the reaction of Ph3SnOSnPh3 with carboxylic acids. 3D-supramolecular network formation in the X-ray crystal structure of [Ph2Sn(OH)OC(O)(Rf)]2, Rf = 2,4,6-(CF3)3C6H2

A 1:2 reaction of Ph3SnOSnPh3 1 with RfCOOH 2 leads to the formation of [Ph2Sn(OH)OC(O)(Rf)]2 3, by means of a facile Sn-C bond cleavage process.

Pendant cyclodicarbaphosphazatriene-containing monomers and polymers: synthesis, crystal structures and polymerization behavior of [NC(NMe2)]2[NP(O-C6H4-p-C6H4-p-CH=CH2)(X)], X = Cl, OCH2CF3, OC6H5, OC6H4-m-CH3, OC6H4-p-Br

The reaction of the dicarbaphosphazene, [NC(NMe(2))](2)[NPCl(2)] (2), with the sodium salt of 4-hydroxy-4'-vinylbiphenyl afforded the vinyl group containing monomer [NC(NMe(2))](2)[NP(Cl)(O-C(6)H(4)-p-C(6)H(4)-p-CH=CH(2))] (3). Replacement of the lone chlorine atom of 3 by oxygen nucleophiles gave [NC(NMe(2))](2)[NP(OR)(O-C(6)H(4)-p-C(6)H(4)-p-CH=CH(2))] [R = CH(2)CF(3) (4); C(6)H(5) (5); C(6)H(4)-m-CH(3) (6); C(6)H(4)-p-Br(7)]. The X-ray crystal structures of 3-7 reveal that all the cyclodicarbaphosphazenes have a planar N(3)PC(2) ring; the ring carbons are completely planar, while the geometry around phosphorus is pseudotetrahedral. The presence of weak intermolecular hydrogen bonding [C-H---X(Cl or Br), C-H---N, or C-H---pi] interactions in 3-7 leads to the formation of polymeric architectures in the solid-state. The monomers 4-7 can be polymerized by a free-radical initiator to afford the corresponding air-stable homopolymers 8-11. These have moderate molecular weights with polydispersity indices ranging from 1.33 to 1.58. All of these polymers have high glass transition temperatures and have excellent thermal stability.

Expanding the limits of catalysts with low-valent main-group elements for the hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones using [L†Sn(ii)][OTf] (L† = aminotroponate; OTf = triflate)

A triflatostannylene [L^†Sn][OTf] (2) is found to be an efficient catalyst with low-valent main-group element for the hydroboration of aldehydes and ketones.