N-heterocyclic Silylene Research Articles

Ferrocene-Based N-Heterocyclic Silylenes: Monomeric Silanechalcogenones, Silanimines, Silirenes, and Insertion Products with P4.

The stable ferrocene-based N-heterocyclic silylenes fc[(N{B})2Si] (A; fc = 1,1'-ferrocenylene, {B} = (HCNDipp)2B, Dipp = 2,6-diisopropylphenyl) and fc[(NDipp)2Si] (B) are compared in a study focussing on their reactivity towards a range of small to moderately sized molecular substrates, viz. P4, S8, Se8, MesN3 (Mes = mesityl), RC≡CH, and RC≡CR (R = Ph, SiMe3). The Dipp-substituted congener B exhibits a more pronounced ambiphilicity and is sterically less congested than its 1,3,2-diazaborolyl-substituted relative A, in line with the higher reactivity of the former. The difference in reactivity is obviously due more to electronic than to steric reasons, as is illustrated by the fact that both A and B react with the comparatively bulky substrate MesN3 under mild conditions to afford the corresponding silanimine fc[(N{B})2Si=NMes] and fc[(NDipp)2Si=NMes], respectively. The heavier ketone analogues fc[(N{B})2Si=E] (E = S, Se, Te) are readily available from A and the corresponding chalcogen. In contrast, the reaction of the more reactive silylene B with elemental sulfur or selenium is unspecific, affording product mixtures. However, fc[(NDipp)2Si=Se] is selectively prepared from B and (Et2N)3PSe; the Te analogue is also accessible, but crystallises as head-to-tail dimer.

Synthesis, Reactivity, and Complexation with Fe(0) of a Tight-bite Bis(N-heterocyclic silylene).

The synthesis, reactivity, and complexation with Fe(0) precursor of a tight-bite bis(N-heterocyclic silylene) (bis(NHSi)) ligand 1 are reported. The reaction of 1 with p-toluidine led to the activation of both N-H bonds across Si(II) atoms to afford a four-membered heterocyclic cyclodisilazane 2, with hydride substituents attached to five-coordinate Si atoms. A 1 : 2 reaction of 1 with Fe(CO)5 led to an intriguing dinuclear complex 3 featuring a five-membered (N-Si-Fe-Fe-Si) ring with a Fe-Fe bond distance of 2.6892(13) Å. All compounds (1-3) were thoroughly characterized by various spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction studies conclusively established their molecular structures. DFT calculations were carried out to shed light on bonding and energetic aspects in 1-3.

Stabilization and One Electron Reduction of a Silicon Analogue of a Carboxylic Acid Anhydride.

Reaction of the 1,2-disilylenes {(DipAr Am)Si}2 (DipAr Am=[(NDip)2 CAr]- , Dip=2,6-diisopropylphenyl, Ar=4-C6 H4 But (Ar') 1 a or Ph 1 b) and two abnormal N-heterocyclic silylenes, (DipAr Am)SiOCSi{(NDip)2 CAr} (Ar=Ar' 3 a or Ph 3 b) with N2 O led to formation of unprecedented examples of uncoordinated silicon analogues of carboxylic acid anhydrides, (DipAr Am)(O=)SiOSi(=O)(DipAr Am) (Ar=Ar' 2 a or Ph 2 b). Both compounds have been fully characterized, and the mechanism of formation of one explored using DFT calculations. Reduction of sila-acid anhydride 2 a with a dimagnesium(I) compound, [{(Mes Nacnac)Mg}2 ] (Mes Nacnac=[(MesNCMe)2 CH]- , Mes=mesityl), led to the one-electron reduction of the anhydride and formation of a magnesium complex of a sila-acid anhydride radical anion [(Mes Nacnac)Mg{(OSi(DipAr' Am)}2 O] 5. A combination of EPR spectroscopic studies and DFT calculations reveal the unpaired electron to largely reside on one of the amidinate ligands of the complex.

A hybrid silylene-Pd catalyst: efficient C-N cross-coupling of sterically bulky amines and chiral amines.

Herein, we report a catalytic system with N-heterocyclic silylene (NHSi)-phosphine-based hybrid bidentate ligands [PhC(NtBu)2SiN(PR2)(2,6-iPr2-C6H3)] and Pd(dba)2, which serves as an effective catalyst for C-N cross-coupling of a wide range of sterically bulky amines and optically active amines, which is challenging otherwise.

Alkyl backbone variations in common β-diketiminate ligands and applications to N-heterocyclic silylene chemistry.

We report the extension of the common β-diketimine proligand class, RArnacnacH (HC(RCNAr)2H), where R is an alkyl group such as Et or iPr, plus Ph, and Ar is a sterically demanding aryl substituent such as Dip = 2,6-diispropylphenyl, Dep = 2,6-diethylphenyl, Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl or mesityl, Xyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl, via one-pot condensation procedures. When a condensation reaction is carried out using the chemical dehydrating agent PPSE (polyphosphoric acid trimethylsilylester), β-diketiminate phosphorus(V) products such as (iPrMesnacnac)PO2 can also be obtained, which can be converted to the respective proligand iPrMesnacnacH via alkaline hydrolysis. The RArnacnacH proligands can be converted to their alkali metal complexes with common methods and we have found that deprotonation of iPrDipnacnacH is significantly more sluggish than that of related β-diketimines with smaller backbone alkyl groups. The basicity of the RArnacnac- anions can play a role in the success of their salt metathesis chemistry and we have prepared and structurally characterised the EtDipnacnac-derived silicon(II) compounds (EtDipnacnac)SiBr and (EtDipnacnac')Si, where EtDipnacnac' is the deprotonated variant MeCHC(NDip)CHC(NDip)Et.

A silylene-stabilized ditin(0) complex and its conversion to methylditin cation and distannavinylidene

Due to their intrinsic high reactivity, isolation of tin(0) complexes remains challenging. Herein, we report the synthesis of a silylene-stabilized ditin(0) complex (2) by reduction of a silylene-supported dibromostannylene (1) with 1 equivalent of magnesium (I) dimer in toluene. The structure of 2 was established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Density Functional Theory calculations revealed that complex 2 bears a Sn=Sn double bond and one lone pair of electrons on each of the Sn(0) atoms. Remarkably, complex 2 is readily methylated to give a mixed-valent methylditin cation (4), which undergoes topomerization in solution though a reversible 1,2-Me migration along a Sn=Sn bond. Computational studies showed that the three-coordinate Sn atom in 4 is the dominant electrophilic center, and allows for facile reaction with KHBBus3 furnishing an unprecedented N-heterocyclic silylenes-stabilized distannavinylidene (5). The synthesis of 2, 4 and 5 demonstrates the exceptional ability of N-heterocyclic silylenes to stabilize low valent tin complexes.

Substituent influence of heteroatom on the novel remote N-heterocyclic silylenes (RNHSis) using density functional theory

In this work, we have compared and contrasted the stability, polarity, polarizability, frequency, band gap, charge distribution, and global reactivity of singlet (s) and triplet (t) states of the fused benzo-4-sila-1,4-dihydropyridine-4,4-diyl as the reference structure (1-s and 1-t) as well as the fused pyrrole congeners (2x-s, and 2x-t, x = NH, PH, AsH, O, S, and Se), using density-functional theory (DFT). According to frequency data, all singlet and triplet remote N-heterocyclic silylene (RNHSi) structures appear as minimum displaying a positive force constant. Every singlet silylene as ground state exhibits more stability than its corresponding triplet congener. Consistent with Hoffmannʼs findings, the fusion of one pyrrole ring with different heteroatoms stabilizes the corresponding RNHSi more than the fusion of one benzene ring. In going from 1-s to 2x-s species and substituting of NH, PH, AsH, O, S, and Se groups, higher singlet–triplet energy difference (ΔE s-t = E t – E s) and the higher band gap is found for 2NH-s and 2 O-s structures. Interestingly, the higher thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the optimized RNHSis than the synthesized Kiraʼs silylene makes them worthy of synthetic exploration. According to the distributed charge and FMO (the frontier molecular orbital) shapes, the more negative region is localized on pyridineʼs nitrogen and the less negative region is confined over pyrroleʼs nitrogen, while the positive charge is distributed on silylenic center. This phenomenon is inconsistent with the expected canonical forms for RNHSis.

Robert C. West (1928–2022): A Giant in Organosilicon Chemistry, Cosmopolitan, Mountain Climber and Pilot

Robert C. West (1928–2022): A Giant in Organosilicon Chemistry, Cosmopolitan, Mountain Climber and Pilot

Synthesis and Reactivity of an Anti-van't Hoff/Le Bel Compound with a Planar Tetracoordinate Silicon(II) Atom.

For a long time, planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC) represented an exotic coordination mode in organic and organometallic chemistry, but it is now a useful synthetic building block. In contrast, realization of planar tetracoordinate silicon (ptSi), a heavier analogue of ptC, is still challenging. Herein we report the successful synthesis and unusual reactivity of the first ptSi species of divalent silicon present in 3, supported by the chelating bis(N-heterocyclic silylene)bipyridine ligand, 2,2'-{[(4-tBuPh)C(NtBu)]2SiNMe}2(C5N)2, 1]. The compound resulted from direct reaction of 1 with Idipp-SiI2 [Idipp = 1,3-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene]. Alternatively, it can also be synthesized by a two-electron reduction of the corresponding Si(IV) precursor 2 with 2 molar equiv of KC10H8. Density functional theory calculations show that the lone pair at the ptSi(II) resides almost completely in its 3pz orbital, very different from known four-coordinate silylenes. Oxidative addition of MeI to the ptSi(II) atom affords the corresponding pentacoordinate Si(IV) compound 4, with the methyl group located in an apical position. Remarkably, the reaction of 2 with [CuOtBu] leads to the regeneration of the bis(silylene) arms via Si-Si bond scission and induces the Si(II) → Si(IV) oxidation of the central Si(II) atom and concomitant two-electron reduction of the bipyridine moiety to form the neutral bis(silylene)silyl Cu(I) complex 5.

Signet-Ring-Shaped Octaphosphorus-Cobalt Complexes: Synthesis, Structure, and Functionalization Reactions with Carbene Analogs.

White phosphorus activation with low-valent metal species has proved to be very effective in converting P4 into small Pn-containing molecules with n ≤ 4. Much less developed are metal-mediated P4-coupling reactions that can yield selectively large polyphosphorus clusters. Herein, we report P4-activation reactions with three-coordinate N-heterocyclic carbene(NHC)-cobalt(0)-alkene complexes, which produce the P8 complexes of cobalt [(NHC)2Co2(μ-η6:η6-P8)] (NHC = 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes), 1; 1,3-bis(2,6-diethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene (IDep), 2) in high yields. The P8 ligand in 1 and 2 exhibits a signet-ring type structure that was predicted by theoretical study but has never been obtained in synthetic molecules. Theoretical studies suggest that [(NHC)2Co2(μ-η6:η6-P8)] is best described as a Co0-[P8]0-Co0 complex featuring a Co-Co σ-bond and discernible Co-to-P8 back-donation. By treating with N-heterocyclic silylene, phosphinidene precursor, organic azides, and NHCs, complex 1 was transformed into [(IMes)2Co2(μ-η6:η6-P8X)] (X = 1,3-bis(tert-butyl)-1,3-diaza-2-silacyclopent-4-en-2-ylidene, 3; PNMe2, 4), [(IMes)2Co2(σ:(μ-η4:η6)-RNPPP6)] (R = SO2-C6H4-p-Me, 5; C(CF3)2Ph, 6), and [(IMes)2Co2(μ-η2:η2-cyclo-P4P(IPri2))(μ-η3:η3-P3)] (7), respectively. Complexes 3-7 can be viewed as the adducts of 1 with the corresponding carbene analogous SiR2, PR, NR, and CR2, but their core structures are distinct. Under similar conditions, white phosphorus is inert toward these reagents. These cage functionalization reactions showcase the enhanced reactivity of the P8 ligand in [(NHC)2Co2(μ-η6:η6-P8)] over that of P4, and indicate the amphiphilicity of the P8 ligand toward electrophiles and nucleophiles.

A bis(silylene)pyridine pincer ligand can stabilize mononuclear manganese(0) complexes: facile access to isolable analogues of the elusive d7-Mn(CO)5 radical.

Using the potentially tridentate N,N′-bis(N-heterocyclic silylene)pyridine [SiNSi] pincer-type ligand, 2,6-N,N′-diethyl-bis[N,N′-di-tert-butyl(phenylamidinato)silylene] diaminopyridine, led to the first isolable bis(silylene)pyridine-stabilized manganese(0) complex, {κ3-[SiNSi]Mn(dmpe)} 4 (dmpe = (Me2P)2C2H4), which represents an isolobal 17 VE analogue of the elusive Mn(CO)5 radical. The compound is accessible through the reductive dehalogenation of the corresponding dihalido (SiNSi)Mn(ii) complexes 1 (Cl) and 2 (Br) with potassium graphite. Exposing 4 towards the stronger π-acceptor ligands CO and 2,6-dimethylphenyl isocyanide afforded the related Mn(0) complexes κ2-[SiNSi]Mn(CO)3 (5) and κ3-[SiNSi]Mn(CNXylyl)2(κ1-dmpe) (6), respectively. Remarkably, the stabilization of Mn(0) in the coordination sphere of the [SiNSi] ligand favors the d7 low-spin electronic configuration, as suggested by EPR spectroscopy, SQUID measurements and DFT calculations. The suitability of 4 acting as a superior pre-catalyst in regioselective hydroboration of quinolines has also been demonstrated.

Mesoionic and N-Heterocyclic Carbenes Coordinated N+ Center: Experimental and Computational Analysis.

N-Heterocyclic carbenes, carbocyclic carbenes, remote N-heterocyclic carbenes and N-heterocyclic silylenes are known to form L→N+ coordination bonds. However, mesoionic carbenes (MICs) are not reported to form coordination bonds with cationic nitrogen. Herein, synthesis and quantum chemical studies were performed on 1,2,3-triazol-5-ylidene stabilized N+ center. Six compounds with MIC→N+ ←NHC were synthesized. Density functional theory calculations and energy decomposition analysis were carried out to explore the bonding situation between MIC and N+ center. The C→N+ bond lengths were in the range of 1.295-1.342 Å and bond dissociation energies were <400 kcal/mol. Natural bond orbital analysis supported the presence of excess electron density (>3 electrons) at the N+ center. The computational and X-ray diffraction analysis results confirmed the presence of divalent NI character of center nitrogen and MIC→N+ ←NHC coordination interactions.

Investigation of fused remote N-heterocyclic silylenes (frNHSis), at DFT.

We compared and contrasted the ΔΕs-t, band gap (ΔΕHOMO-LUMO), aromaticity, charge distribution, and reactivity of singlet (s) and triplet (t) benzopyridine-4-ylidene as the fused remote N-heterocyclic carbene (frNHC) and frNHSis with different fused aromatic rings, at (U)B3LYP/AUG-cc-pVTZ and (U)M06-2X/AUG-cc-pVTZ levels of theory. In this investigation, we found (1) all s and t divalent states appear as minimum structures, for having no negative force constant. Nonetheless, only singlets present more thermodynamic stability than their triplet analogous; (2) the trend of ΔΕs-t in kcal/mol is ortho-pyrrole (52.94) > ortho-furan (51.84) > ortho-thiophene (50.38) > para-furan (49.36) > para-pyrrole (49.00) > para-phosphole (48.67) ≥ para-thiophene (48.64) > benzene (44.33) > ortho-phosphole frNHSi (27.50), while ΔΕs-t of frNHC is 15.65kcal/mol; (3) apart from phosphole frNHSis, the order of ΔΕs-t in a "ortho position or zigzag array" about 1.8-4.0kcal/mol is more than that of in a "para position or chair array"; (4) the highest ΔΕHOMO-LUMO is demonstrated by ortho-pyrrole frNHSi (95.65kcal/mol) while the lowest ΔΕHOMO-LUMO is verified by the reference frNHC (63.44kcal/mol); (5) in contradiction of frNHC, all singlet frNHSis reveal higher band gap and lower global reactivity than their triplet congeners; (6) charge distribution along with MEP maps indicate differentially electronic cloud in middle of rings frNHSis vs. frNHC; (7) we anticipate higher nucleophilicity and lower electrophilicity of triplet frNHSis than singlet congeners, will make them worthy of synthetic surveys.

Carbene‐Stabilized Dithiolene (L0) Zwitterions

AbstractA series of reactions between Lewis bases and an imidazole‐based dithione dimer (1) has been investigated. Both cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) (2) and N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) (4), in addition to N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi) (6), demonstrate the capability to cleave the sulphur–sulphur bonds in 1, giving carbene‐stabilized dithiolene (L0) zwitterions (3 and 5) and a spirocyclic silicon–dithiolene compound (7), respectively. The bonding nature of 3, 5, and 7 are probed by both experimental and theoretical methods.

Carbene-Stabilized Dithiolene (L0 ) Zwitterions.

A series of reactions between Lewis bases and an imidazole-based dithione dimer (1) has been investigated. Both cyclic(alkyl)(amino)carbene (CAAC) (2) and N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) (4), in addition to N-heterocyclic silylene (NHSi) (6), demonstrate the capability to cleave the sulphur-sulphur bonds in 1, giving carbene-stabilized dithiolene (L0 ) zwitterions (3 and 5) and a spirocyclic silicon-dithiolene compound (7), respectively. The bonding nature of 3, 5, and 7 are probed by both experimental and theoretical methods.

Phosphine-Stabilized Germasilenylidene: Source for a Silicon-Atom Transfer.

A phosphine-stabilized germasilenylidene is synthesized following the pathway of SiCl4 oxidative addition at a germylene-phosphine Lewis pair. Low-temperature reduction using {(MesNacnac)Mg}2 resulted in a chlorosilylene intermediate and finally a molecule exhibiting a Ge═Si: motif. Inside the chelating phosphine-germylene, a low-valent silicon atom is stabilized and was transferred to diazabutadiene to give N-heterocyclic silylenes. Because of the high reactivity of the phosphine-stabilized germasilenylidene, a reaction of two Ge═Si: units was found to yield a Si2Ge2-ring molecule exhibiting a germasilene substituted with a silylene.

Synthesis and catalytic activity of N‐heterocyclic silylene (NHSi) iron (II) hydride for hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones

A novel silylene supported iron hydride [Si, C]FeH (PMe3)3 (1) was synthesized by C (sp3)‐H bond activation with zero‐valent iron complex Fe (PMe3)4. Complex 1 was fully characterized by spectroscopic methods and single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. To the best of our knowledge, 1 is the first example of silylene‐based hydrido chelate iron complex produced through activation of the C (sp3)−H bond. It was found that complex 1 exhibited excellent catalytic activity for hydrosilylation of aldehydes and ketones. The catalytic system showed good tolerance and catalytic activity for the substrates with different functional groups on the benzene ring. It is worth mentioning that, the experimental results showed that both ketones and aldehydes could be reduced in good to excellent yields under the same catalytic conditions. Based on the experiments and literature reports, a possible catalytic mechanism was proposed.

Characterization of novel pyridine‐derived N‐heterocyclic silylenes via density functional theory perspective

AbstractWe theoretically searched new derivatives of N‐heterocyclic silylenes (NHSis) by substituting of pyridine and phosphinine rings, compared to the reference carbenes (N‐heterocyclic carbenes—NHCs) including benzopyridine‐4‐ylidene (1) and dibenzopyridine‐4‐ylidene (2), at M06‐2X/AUG‐cc‐pVTZ and B3LYP/AUG‐cc‐pVTZ. Regardless of how organized NHSis are, fusion of 1 six‐membered ring leads to more vibration frequency (υmin), stabilizing effect, and polarizability than 2 six‐membered rings. In all cases, singlet (3s‐10s) and triplet (3t‐10t) NHSis emerge as ground state, showing more stability of singlet states than their corresponding triplet congeners. From thermodynamic and kinetic viewpoints, the scrutinized singlet NHSis show more stability than the parent singlet NHCs (1s and 2s), but the studied triplet NHSis exhibit less stability than triplet NHCs (1t and 2t). Regarding the orientation of silylenic center and nitrogen or phosphor heteroatoms of fused rings, the stabilizing energy for para−fused rings is more than ortho ones. The most stability is confirmed by one para−substituted pyridine NHSi (singlet‐triplet energy difference; ΔΕs‐t = 47.3 and band gap; ΔEHOMO‐LUMO = 85.0 kcal/mol; highest occupied molecular orbital [HOMO] and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital [LUMO]) and the least stability is demonstrated by two substituted benzene NHC (ΔΕs‐t = 11.9 and ΔEHOMO‐LUMO = 58.6 kcal/mol). In contrast to pure NHCs, triplet NHSis (3t‐10t) show lower ΔΕHOMO‐LUMO, higher nucleophilicity, lower electrophilicity, and lower chemical hardness than their corresponding singlet states (3s‐10s).

Evidence of the Lewis-Amphoteric Character of Tris(pentafluoroethyl)silanide, [Si(C2 F5 )3

According to a first view on the geometrical and electronic structure of the tris(pentafluoroethyl)silanide, this anion appears as a Lewis base. Quantum chemical calculations on perfluoroalkylated silanides show significantly lower HOMO and LUMO energy levels in comparison to their non‐fluorinated counterparts, which implies reduced Lewis basicity and increased Lewis acidity of the [Si(C2F5)3]− ion. With these findings and a HOMO–LUMO gap of 4.80 eV similar to N‐heterocyclic silylenes (NHSis), perfluoroalkyl silanides are predestined to exhibit Lewis‐amphoteric character similar to silylenes. Deprotonation of Si(C2F5)3H with sterically demanding phosphazene bases afforded thermally stable phosphazenium salts of the [Si(C2F5)3]− anion, which add to benzaldehyde, benzophenone, CS2, and CO2 in various manners. This behavior also mirrors the reactivity of silylenes towards ketones as well as heterocumulenes and is rationalized by Lewis amphotericity being inherent in these silanides.

A computational perspective of novel N‐heterocyclic silylenes using density functional theory

AbstractIn this theoretical survey, we inspect substituent effects of two fused benzene, pyrrole, phosphole, furan, and thiophene rings on the stability, polarity, charge distribution, nucleophilicity, electrophilicity, and aromaticity of singlet (s) and triplet (t) silylenes, at density functional theory (DFT). Singlet silylenes as ground state exhibit more stability than their corresponding triplet congeners. In contrast to previous reports on Hammick carbenes, here higher thermodynamic stability (singlet‐triplet energy difference or ΔEs‐t = Et − Es) is considered for silylene situated between two sulfur heteroatoms of two substituted thiophene rings, in a “chair” arrangement in the direction of the silylenic center. Regardless of how arranged, the order of stabilizing effect for fused rings is thiophene &gt; furan &gt; pyrrole &gt; phosphole &gt; benzene. The substituted Hammick silylenes with two fused heterocyclic rings show more stability than synthesized silylenes by Denk and Kira. Also, higher kinetic stability (the frontier molecular orbitals energy difference or ΔEHOMO‐LUMO) is revealed by silylene situated between two oxygen heteroatoms of two substituted furan rings, in a “W” arrangement to the divalent center. The scrutinized singlet structures display wider band gap than their triplet states. Every triplet silylene shows higher nucleophilicity (about 1/5 times) than its corresponding singlet state. Commonly, six‐membered aromatic N‐heterocyclic silylenes (NHSis) show higher N and lower ω than that of five‐membered aromatic NHSis. The highest N and the least ω character is anticipated for the substituted pyrrole NHSis in either “W” arrangement or “chair” orientation toward the silylenic center, among the fused species.