Eta-6 bonding of benzene to potassium in [(C 6H 6)KOSiMe 2Ph] 4

Abstract

Reaction of KH with PhMe 2SiOH in toluene, followed by recrystallization from benzene, gives [(C 6H 6)KOSiMe 2Ph] 4, characterized by elemental analysis, 1H and 29Si NMR and X-ray diffraction. The molecule is a cubane tetramer of rigorous S 4 symmetry, in which the KO 3 coordination environment is supplemented by h 6-binding of one benzene to each potassium. Crystal data (− 169°C): a = 12.972(2), b = 18.006(2) Å, with Z = 8 in space group I4̄.