Abstract
Air‐ and moisture‐stable heterobimetallic tetrahedral clusters [Cp(CO)2MSiR]2 (M=Mo or W; R=SitBu3) were isolated from the reaction of N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) stabilized silyl(silylidene) metal complexes Cp(CO)2M=Si(SitBu3)NHC with a mild Lewis acid (BPh3). Alternatively, treatment of the NHC‐stabilized silylidene complex Cp(CO)2W=Si(SitBu3)NHC with stronger Lewis acids such as AlCl3 or B(C6F5)3 resulted in the reversible coordination of the Lewis acid to one of the carbonyl ligands. Computational investigations revealed that the dimerization of the intermediate metal silylidyne (M≡Si) complex to a tetrahedral cluster instead of a planar four‐membered ring is due to steric bulk.
Highlights
Tetrahedral clusters that consist of main-group elements are attractive synthetic targets because of their high ring strain and reactivity.[1]
Computational investigations revealed that the dimerization of the intermediate metal silylidyne (MSi) complex to a tetrahedral cluster instead of a planar four-membered ring is due to steric bulk
We concluded that a MSi complex with comparably reduced bulk on both the silicon atom and the transition-metal center should be an excellent choice for the targeted tetrahedral cluster
Summary
Tetrahedral clusters that consist of main-group elements are attractive synthetic targets because of their high ring strain and reactivity.[1]. Abstract: Air- and moisture-stable heterobimetallic tetrahedral clusters [Cp(CO)2MSiR]2 (M = Mo or W; R = SitBu3) were isolated from the reaction of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) stabilized silyl(silylidene) metal complexes Cp(CO)2M=Si(SitBu3)NHC with a mild Lewis acid (BPh3).
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