Theoretical study on the mechanism of cycloaddition reaction between dichlorogermylene silylene (Cl2Ge=Si:) and acetaldehyde

Abstract

The mechanism of the cycloaddition reaction between singlet state dichlorogermylene silylene (Cl2Ge=Si:) and acetaldehyde has been investigated with the MP2/cc-pvtz//MP2/6-31G* method. According to the potential energy profile, it can be predicted that the reaction has four competitive dominant reaction pathways. The presented rule of this reaction is that the 3p unoccupied orbital of Si: atom in dimethylgermylene silylene(Cl2Ge=Si:) inserts the π orbital of acetaldehyde from the oxygen side, resulting in the formation of intermediate. In the intermediate and two reactants, two four-membered ring silylenes, with Si and O in the syn-position and opposite orientation, respectively, are generated, as the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction has occurred between the two bonding π orbital in dichlorogermylene silylene and acetaldehyde. Because of the unsaturated property of Si: atom in the two four-membered ring silylenes, they can further react with acetaldehyde to form two silicic bis-heterocyclic compounds. Simultaneity, the drive of ringlet tensility and unsaturated property of Si: atom in the four-membered ring silylene makes it isomerize into a distorted four-membered ring product and a Cl-transfer product and a H-transfer product, respectively.